[NetBehaviour] Scientists add emotions to robotic hea

[marc garrett]

Scientists add emotions to robotic head.

Claiming that service-class robots will one day be pervasive,
researchers at the University of the West of England's Bristol Robotics
Laboratory (BRL) have begun investigating ways to make robots seem more
human.

Just as PCs are now common in households, workplaces, and parts of our
environment, BRL expects "service-class" robotic devices to become "a
pervasive element of our future society." This will represent a "huge
opportunity for life enhancement and commercial exploitation," the lab adds.

Typical occupations for tomorrow's robotic underlings are expected to
include:

* Aids for the elderly
* Domestic servants
* Tour guides
* Hotel porters
* Non beer-drinking "assistants" on construction sites
* Leisure/gaming robots
* Numerous military roles
* "...and so on"

Since service-class robots will occupy environments that contain people,
there's a fundamental need for them to interact in an easy and natural
manner with their human companions, BRL notes.

more...
http://www.deviceguru.com/scientists-add-emotions-to-robotic-head/