What does your robot future salefloor look like.

gmiceo · Post by **gmiceo** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:40 am

I have been watching with interest the recent inovations in robotics. It is beginning to show signs of emerging markets that will actually begin producing the type of socially interactive robots that we are looking for. Japan, China, and Korea seem to be leading the physical construction movement. They are focused mainly on the service industry such as health care, teaching, and elderly care givers. This makes sense considering the current elderly vs. youth population today in Japan. These robots will have to fully interact with and "care for" their owners while still being self sufficient enough recharge, download updates, and have some form of self protection. The sexual aspect of these service bots seems to be at least in the backs of the creators minds. While they say that it is easier for us to trust a female form you can bet that they know full well the history of what they are trying to create. These creations though are completely asian in appearance. Rightly so since that is the major producer of robotic advancement. It seems in the US we are more focused on the AI development and theoretical software needed. Which actually brings me to my point.
The creations of the future sitting on the store shelves or standing (like on a car lot) will have a shelf life just like the dolls, cars, and other items that we purchase. Those models that fail to sell will either be discounted or returned to factory for resources. That would cause the asian companies producing these bots to be very careful in creating a "one size fits all" type model with skins to put over it. The problem with that is it does not keep up with changing technology, nor customer desire. It's much harder to change an entire production line than it is to alter a segment or part of a line. If you have looked at a doll shelf in a toy store in Japan you will notice that the White, hispanic, and black type dolls are a minority. Making most of these types custom creations. Robots like maids, secretaries, and cooks would also be specialty since your most basic robot would come with those functions. Just some thoughts on the future we would like to see. Comments welcome.

AK · Post by AK » Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:50 am

[POST REMOVED]

Borias · Post by **Borias** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:02 pm

AK · Post by AK » Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:34 pm

[POST REMOVED]

Outsider · Post by **Outsider** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:37 pm

I think we're facing peak oil. I don't expect an immediate collapse, but most economies are going to have to do more on less.

Hopefully peak oil will prod us into reducing CO2 emissions enough to avert the worst-case scenarios for global warming. Worryingly, warmer weather in Siberia is destabilizing the permafrost and releasing CH4 into the atmosphere.

I think we're also seeing a power struggle between established elites and an open society. The more people can collaborate on new projects, the better they work. The more people can help create new technologies, the faster they will develop and the more we can do on less.

I can see artificial intelligence emerging in two very different environments. The first would come from very high-budget military labs for military applications, and getting used against ordinary people as the political crisis continues. The second would come from hobbyists and academics networked all over the world. I suspect that would come into its own sometime after a social and economic revolution - a breakdown in the various monopolies - perhaps "market 2.0" perhaps something very different.

I doubt anything would be sold on the showroom model.

AK · Post by AK » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:41 pm

[POST REMOVED]

Stephaniebot · Post by **Stephaniebot** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:58 am

AK wrote:Hard to say. A technological revolution such as artificial intelligence, or even just mind uploading would have a profound effect on any economy to which it was introduced.

You almost make mind uploading sound a simple event lol! Oh, I wish.

I think the viable AI revolution will happen, probably within the next 20 years maximum, I wouldnt be surprised if it was sooner.
Mind uploading I dont see happening anytime soon, much though I would love that to happen. 2050 maybe? At the very earliest...?

gmiceo · Post by **gmiceo** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:06 am

See I think that the old school sales floor is just to outdated. With rising populations and lack of green space in our cities it would be costly to maintain a large site filled with boxes of robots. Also the amount of money invested into that would be incredible.

I think it will resemble more of a cell phone store. With 3d holograms representing each model. One or two on floor to assist and show off their features, but for the most part just images to show you what is available. If we have a one size fits all approach to the robot construction then you would need plug in modules for the features you wanted. Which would allow for more money being made by the companies. Forcing you to upgrade your software every year or it shuts down.

Introverted people probably will be able to buy online, but will probably have to go in to the store to pick up their customized bot. You can custom order cars like that now, but none of them will deliver to your door. I think the AI and modules would have to be activated and tuned to each owner so it would be hard to just simply get a plug and play type of bot.

The AI's that are developing so far are being developed in individual labs, universities and private sector. I don't see that changing. To date no military has shown interest in a humanish soldier. They prefer the larger robotic tanks and dog like hunter bots. I don't see a failure in any of those areas though unless we have a huge global meltdown of the economy. Most Japanase R&D is set up for 10 year development with the budgets already set aside. US is more like three years but either way long enough to get through a recession.

Sorry to get long winded, just a lot to sift through.

rabiator · Post by **rabiator** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:36 am

I guess if I was a fembot dealer, my showroom would be somewhere between a car dealership and a consulting office for custom jobs

With a few standard models that are both on display and assistants. They would greet the customers, introduce themselves and so on, in order to make a good first impression. So far, the similarity to a car dealership.

Additionally, a computer with software to simulate the outcome of custom versions. Display via a beamer or another HUGE screen on the wall, so I can enter the changes during the sales talk and show them to the customer.

visceralpsyche · Post by **visceralpsyche** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:20 am

Sex sells. So if I were a fembot dealer ( or making movies with them in it

) I'd make it look just like a ritzy nightclub, where you can jive to sultry, sexy tunes and interact with the various models to see which one turned you on the most. Then you could simply whisper the right phrase into her ear and she'd accompany you to the exit (and cash register). Meanwhile, knowing that you'd just bought one of the EX-3S Asian Model types, the proprietor would log it into their database and smoothly send out the next one of the same model to entice the next customer, such that the floor always contained at least one to two of every model you sell (plus video screens showing further customisation options at additional cost).

Yes, I've thought about all this before....

Brianna 1365 Gamma · Post by **Brianna 1365 Gamma** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:12 am

[POST REMOVED]