Some of us could be in real trouble here.....

[pyan]

Giving Avatars Real Bodies

Scientists have developed an interface between reality and virtual reality in which, in a sense, virtual reality can control reality.

"Researchers are working to associate online avatars with physical bodies, connecting virtual reality robots with steel and software counterparts.

The unification of software and mobility like this results in the so-called 'Ubibot' (ubiquitous robot), which the researchers predict is the future of interactive robotics. In the future, avatars on your pc/cell/pda screen may be able to bring you your tea or scratch your back.

'Two key components of the interface involve the sensor mapper and behavior mapper. The sensor mapper helps Rity get physical (ultrasound) sensor information from Mybot, enabling the virtual avatar to use physical information. The behavior mapper helps Rity actually perform physical behaviors using Mybot in a real environment, enabling the avatar to interact physically with human beings in real environments.'"

[ice.monkey]

When there is a control conflict (i.e. two different controllers are trying to do different things at once), then an arbiter control system gives priority to Mybot, then to a human user, and then to Rity.

Don't these people read any SF? Haven't they seen the movies? Mybot has priority over its control over its human owner. Here comes the rise of the robots...

[The Ace]

Sorry, this is a problem?

[Lenny]

Gods... do we really want Elder Gods, Dragons or Emus controlling their real life bodies?

Interesting bit of work though. I'd love to know how they did it.

EDIT: OH! It's Sobots! YAY! They're always interesting things, Sobots.

AH! It would be Jong-Hwan Kim. He's the inventor of Sobots, and he's done it in an interesting way - chromosomes. He's programmed chromosomes. With these, Sobots can react to situations and their environments as if they had basic emotions. It's not all pre-scripted, either. No two Sobots react to a situation and environment the same way.

And since the robots are Software based (Software robots), they can theoretically infect other computers. How cool is that?

[Fake Vencar]

Hum, a dwarf cooking for me...i'd die of food poisoning!

What will they think of next?

[Deathpool]

It depends on how the software is designed. A robot will only do what the software tells it to do. By the way I have a friend that programs robots and an uncle who has masters degree in multimedia. My friend's dad designs computer software as well. In fact as a test somebody commanded a robot to shoot somebody and it refused.