Check out this video of a robot playing a violin.
It seems kind of silly, like when robots in Star Wars speak to each other in English, via holograms, when they could just as easily communicate via some kind of wireless signal that’s far more efficient (but much less theatrical). Why would you make a robot that can play a violin, when it would probably be much easier to make software that accurately simulates the sound of a violin?
Still, it’s pretty cool even though the robot is getting a flat and boring tone out of the instrument.
December 7, 2007 at 3:10 pm
I think we make robots do things like play the violin because we like to make things that look like us and do things we do and anthropomorphizing makes us feel comforted. Also, I’m betting that someday we would like to think we could use robots to help us live forever. As in Star Trek the Next Generation
(I think), the guy who put his essence or whatever into the computers before he died and then it ended up in Data or something so he could continue to live. I probably have that mixed up but that’s the idea anyway.
December 7, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Well, I would imagine that work like building a robot that can make intricate and nuanced movements would play heavily into the development of artificial limb technology and other bionic type things.
Also, when we explore other planets with AI or our alien overloads finally show up, we can entertain them with our mad science skills. Or, if there is some sort of mass extinction of humanity, at least the most boring part of some song we like to play at ceremonies will live on.
December 7, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Yeah, as we’re all going extinct, the robots can assemble and play “Nearer My God to Thee.”