Modeling the behavior of termites, a Harvard research team has assembled small robots and developed software that enables them to build something without supervision. Working with no central control, the robots instead are guided by simple rules as they interact with their environment, tools, and each other.
32-year-old Timo Boll is Germany's table tennis champion, currently ranked number eight in the world. He is also a new "brand ambassador" for KUKA Robotics in China.
The company's "Agilus" robot is the fastest robot in the world, and it appears to play a pretty mean game of ping pong itself.
The two will face off in a man vs. machine exhibition match on March 11, and you'll be able to watch it all unfold online. Check the event's official site as the date rolls closer for more.
32-year-old Timo Boll is Germany's table tennis champion, currently ranked number eight in the world. He is also a new "brand ambassador" for KUKA Robotics in China.
The company's "Agilus" robot is the fastest robot in the world, and it appears to play a pretty mean game of ping pong itself.
The two will face off in a man vs. machine exhibition match on March 11, and you'll be able to watch it all unfold online. Check the event's official site as the date rolls closer for more.
I just logged into the IRD (tax departmant stuff) over the phone by talking with a robot. When people say they hate "talking with a robot" they usually mean they hate "if you want ______ press 1". This was all done by voice, even when they could have had me press the buttons. Actually talking to a robot. Very weird, I don't like it. Voice recognition is not 100% reliable, pressing a button is.
I just logged into the IRD (tax departmant stuff) over the phone by talking with a robot. When people say they hate "talking with a robot" they usually mean they hate "if you want ______ press 1". This was all done by voice, even when they could have had me press the buttons. Actually talking to a robot. Very weird, I don't like it. Voice recognition is not 100% reliable, pressing a button is.
Modeling the behavior of termites, a Harvard research team has assembled small robots and developed software that enables them to build something without supervision. Working with no central control, the robots instead are guided by simple rules as they interact with their environment, tools, and each other.
I just logged into the IRD (tax departmant stuff) over the phone by talking with a robot. When people say they hate "talking with a robot" they usually mean they hate "if you want ______ press 1". This was all done by voice, even when they could have had me press the buttons. Actually talking to a robot. Very weird, I don't like it. Voice recognition is not 100% reliable, pressing a button is.
As someone who works with both, yes.
I called Fed Ex last week and got in an arguement with the robot
like
"Please tell me what you're calling about in a few words"
"There was a delivery notice on our apartment door but it didn't have a name on it and neither my girlfriend or I are expecting anything so I want to know who it's for and if it's for my girlfriend if I'm allowed to pick it up"
"I'm sorry, are you inquiring about shipping rates?"
"No."
"I'm sorry. Please tell me what you're calling about in a few words"
"Delivery Notice"
"So you want to talk to someone about shipping documents?"
"No"
"I'm sorry. Please tell me what you're calling about in a few words"
"Customer Service"
"So you want to talk to a customer service representative. Please tell me in a few words what you'd like to talk about"
I mean I get that most of the people who call are going to have one of a handful of common inquiries, but fuck man, if the robot fails to get it after 1 or 2 tries, just put me through to a damn human.
It's always "Customer Service. Customer Service." Fuck their issues (unless you have specific numbers and already know how to get what you're after).
Just "Customer Service" twice and wait on hold until they're goddamned good and ready to talk to you.
+2
Options
#pipeCocky Stride, Musky odoursPope of Chili TownRegistered Userregular
That's what kills me
I basically did that after a while, and I was not on hold ever at all. The robot was like "OK" and there was a click, and Janet in Customer Service picked it right up.
Oh yeah, the people are generally pretty good. And wait times differ -- during the Christmas rush for example, 30+ minute waits are not unusual. But hey, good for Janet!
Most of those systems have options to just go straight to a customer service rep. Most of the time they make it unclear that's an option. It can really help the people who have the knowledge though, since most of their customers are lost in a maze of synthesized voice recordings and touchtone prompts.
If I have to work with a robot I prefer to do it in text online rather than over the phone.
32-year-old Timo Boll is Germany's table tennis champion, currently ranked number eight in the world. He is also a new "brand ambassador" for KUKA Robotics in China.
The company's "Agilus" robot is the fastest robot in the world, and it appears to play a pretty mean game of ping pong itself.
The two will face off in a man vs. machine exhibition match on March 11, and you'll be able to watch it all unfold online. Check the event's official site as the date rolls closer for more.
From my knowledge of man vs machine folk tales, this is going to result in the defeat of the machine, but Timo Boll will die with his paddle in his hand.
Yonder lies a line painting man, oh lord, yonder lies a line painting man...
[Muffled sounds of gorilla violence]
+2
Options
BroloBroseidonLord of the BroceanRegistered Userregular
That matchup was unfortunately pretty disappointing, it was all scripted.
Here's what I believe is real: I believe that the Kuka robot can probably do that trick at the beginning with rolling the ball over the paddle (given enough takes). I also believe that it can probably serve by itself. And I believe that the robot (called Kuka KR Agilus) can, in real life, move as fast as it appears to and, as a result, even return some difficult shots.
But can it really return shots from Timo Boll? And if the answer is yes, how does it do that? Watching the video, I don't see any kind of high-speed camera or motion tracking system. A ping pong ball is very small, and Timo Boll can hit it pretty damn fast. And the ball is also spinning. In order to hit one of these incoming ping pong balls, you have to have a very accurate idea of where it's going to be when it gets within range of your robot, not to mention all of the other planning you have to do to figure out exactly how to swing the robot arm to return the ball where you want it to go, never mind just intersecting it. Were the camera systems removed from the film in post-production? And what about the ending with Timo Ball exchanging shots with multiple robots: Is there anything real in that scene or is it all special effects?
The "Making Of" video (which you can watch here) is equally disappointing and doesn't provide any behind-the-scenes details on how the robot works.
It’s rare enough for a person to have a life’s work; to be able to see the validation of that work firsthand is understandably an overpowering experience. Linde might not call those years of waiting “faith,” but what he describes sounds somewhat like it—the persevering hope in the face of doubt and self-questioning: “What if I believe in this just because it is beautiful?” Faith, after all, is not just a religious category, and science isn’t divorced from our human capacities for aesthetic appreciation and awe.
Posts
a million! wow
Inspired by Swarming Termites, Robots Can Build Without Supervision
I think this means my gift was well received and appreciated! I am a good friend.
Also @Robert Khoo
Man the next generation is going to have way cooler remote control toys than I did as a kid
Google has acquired SlickLogin - an Israeli start-up behind the technology that allows websites to verify a user's identity by using sound waves.
"Hello. I am the system administrator. My voice is my passport. Verify me."
As someone who works with both, yes.
Few days later:
http://www.replicatedtypo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Picture-18.png
I called Fed Ex last week and got in an arguement with the robot
like
"Please tell me what you're calling about in a few words"
"There was a delivery notice on our apartment door but it didn't have a name on it and neither my girlfriend or I are expecting anything so I want to know who it's for and if it's for my girlfriend if I'm allowed to pick it up"
"I'm sorry, are you inquiring about shipping rates?"
"No."
"I'm sorry. Please tell me what you're calling about in a few words"
"Delivery Notice"
"So you want to talk to someone about shipping documents?"
"No"
"I'm sorry. Please tell me what you're calling about in a few words"
"Customer Service"
"So you want to talk to a customer service representative. Please tell me in a few words what you'd like to talk about"
I mean I get that most of the people who call are going to have one of a handful of common inquiries, but fuck man, if the robot fails to get it after 1 or 2 tries, just put me through to a damn human.
Need some stuff designed or printed? I can help with that.
It's always "Customer Service. Customer Service." Fuck their issues (unless you have specific numbers and already know how to get what you're after).
Just "Customer Service" twice and wait on hold until they're goddamned good and ready to talk to you.
I basically did that after a while, and I was not on hold ever at all. The robot was like "OK" and there was a click, and Janet in Customer Service picked it right up.
Janet was super helpful, though, thanks Janet.
Need some stuff designed or printed? I can help with that.
I hope I never do.
If I have to work with a robot I prefer to do it in text online rather than over the phone.
quit playing games
with my heart
It's too much to handle right now
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2014/mar/17/bicep2-finds-first-direct-evidence-of-cosmic-inflation
and I was so swole the universe got inflated
From my knowledge of man vs machine folk tales, this is going to result in the defeat of the machine, but Timo Boll will die with his paddle in his hand.
Yonder lies a line painting man, oh lord, yonder lies a line painting man...
It's about as real as this:
Pygmy t-rex! look at his extra-wee arms!
http://www.history.com/news/t-rexs-little-cousin-new-pygmy-tyrannosaur-discovered-in-alaska