With delicate mannerisms, and an even tone, she explains her origins and goals. She’d like to be a newsreader one day. Or a cheerleader. Perhaps dabble in counselling. The crowd before her is transfixed, studying her every facial expression. It is because these facial expressions and her bodily movements are created using 43 actuators and are the result of a Japanese technology company’s research. Her name is Chihira Aico and she is Toshiba’s Communication Android.
Creator Hitoshi Tokukda told News Corp the humanoid robot took just one and a half years to create, using Osaka University research and Toshiba’s own technology. Chihira Aico was created, he said, to perform sign language for the hearing impaired, and to translate different sign language styles.
Showstopper ... The demure prototype has been wowing the crowds. But her potential roles have since expanded to include work as a receptionist, accompanying the elderly, and speech therapy. Mr Tokuda said she would also be used in the tourism industry in future. “We want her to support communication, perhaps communicating to foreigners like tourists or people with dementia,” Mr Tokuda said.
“She is not advanced at communication, but she can answer basic questions such as “how are you?” and answer questions with phrases like “today is very cold”.”
Mr Tokuda said the company expected to put Chihira Aico to work next year, potentially with a human operator monitoring her communication in case tough questions required extra assistance.
Toshiba’s Android is one of several robots on show at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this year, including Empire Robotics’ creation that plays beer pong, and tiny Ozobot Bit robots that follow a path drawn by coloured pens to teach kids how to use computer code.
source : www.news.com.au
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