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Computer model easily shows that RoCo - Comrade quite flexible
Robot computer with a monitor on the neck manipulates people

That's it - computers began to stir. And not just so, and to control us. It seems that they have learned to do it with a good purpose - to somehow and for some reason, to improve ourselves and our children. But talking about it, scientists who created them, and the computers themselves on this subject - not a word. Conspiracy?

Engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are pleased to madness: they have in the Media Lab (Media Laboratory) settled wonderful neighbor. The place, however, he took the unenviable - cluttered back room appliances. It does not feed. And even gave him a nickname - not too offensive, but very unassumingly.

However, he does not take offense, it's not a beast and not a man. This is a robot. Specifically, computer. More precisely, a computer with LCD monitor. In short - do both, and third once. So, get acquainted: RoCo - new pet the MIT techies. As you understand, we are talking about another piece of iron, and, certainly, you can not wait to find out what it can spawn of another man's genius.

RoCo (short for Robotic Computer) was presented at the international conference devoted to the interaction of the robot and the human (International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction), held 9-11 March. Externally it is (well, recognize that you may have guessed) a computer (which in itself is not so interesting) with a flat monitor, fortified on the long hinge stand.


We kindly remind you what the film is dedicated to Luxo Jr. It seems that these painted lamps and served as a prototype RoCo - at least, well, very similar motion
In general, the analogy is clear: the stand - it is like the neck, the monitor - the head, and the display - face. "Neck" with a few joints equipped with a system of actuators that drive the "head" - is almost everything you need to know about the technical side RoCo.

Severe childhood RoCo (photo from robotic.media.mit.edu).

When this polurobot-polukompyuter set in motion, it begins to move flexibly their square head. It turns out very funny and something like the famous cartoon computer «Luxo Jr.» about the adventures of a small desk lamp made by Pixar's already in 1986. See it - just two minutes - here.

Jump like the lamp RoCo not know how, but it has some of my skills poeffektnee. When Cynthia Breeze (Cynthia Breazeal), a professor from MIT (Incidentally, we talked about it has made antizhirnom pooch, robopolipe and face Kismet) created it, she remembered that the means of communication can not be only words and gestures, and movement. < br />
She decided that gestures can be expressive, not only people, but also in high-tech villains. Over time, Cynthia contrived, that would be nice to reward RoCo this property.

Together with a group of like-minded professor Breeze learned that emotional state strongly influences the position that a person receives during operation. Based on the fact that there may be the opposite effect - the state of the person as it is possible to change, forcing change posture - the scientists decided to adapt RoCo to person.


But how? Here the authors of the draft recalled that during intercourse people tend to unconsciously replicate some of the gestures and posture interlocutor (of course, not absolute accuracy, and to a certain extent). Such an adjustment, by the way, is used in some psychotherapeutic techniques.

But this is so, by the way had, for learning the basics of psychotherapy robokomp was no time, and no reason. Instead, it simply "informed" of what to do in response to certain perturbations sitting in front of the monitor.

To find out whether this is a good judge, we conducted an experiment. The researchers took two groups of people: one was given a simple task, and others - can not be solved completely. As a result, the subjects were divided into predictable "Udacnik" and "losers." And after they were put for RoCo, giving new tasks.

It is interesting that within these groups, then there was a division. "Successful", sitting in front of a monitor, raised up, showed greater insistence on solving a puzzle than those who sat in front of "hunched» RoCo



RoCo can program whatever you like. For example, here embodied mutual greeting - exchange bows. Tracking the movements occurs, obviously, with a camera on a monitor (frame MIT).
"Losers", on the contrary, more playfully cope with the work to monitor inclined than before, which is optimistic bullied up. It turns out, what works best are the people that pose more in line "position» RoCo.

The conclusions from these observations can be made different. And you can not do: and so it is clear that these three factors - the mood, posture of man and "posture" of the computer are interconnected.

This talent RoCo Cynthia hopes to be applied in teaching - for the development of attention and perseverance in children.

However, this long-necked computer has a simpler application that safely tested in the same laboratory.

RoCo been able to track the position of the body of man sitting in front of the screen and adjust the location to him. But if the pose is uncomfortable and harmful for health at work behind the monitor, it begins to desperately swing RoCo "head" from side to side, as if demanding to get "just right." This and other reactions tehnogibrida from Massachusetts, you can observe the video file (MOV; 13, 5 megabytes).


Yes, the interaction between tehnoshtuchkami and us - it's an interesting problem. Yet we must not forget about the role of man in these respects. Otherwise, here is the prospect of interaction with the computer user can become very, very real ... (illustration Earthbound Graphics).
It must be noted that in this way the computer manipulates man. Of course, we are only a pose, about nothing more, and no technological threat from our silicon-Plastic-steel brothers on reason not wait. Yet last Cynthia Breeze confirms: "They can really push our buttons." And this lady certainly knows what he says.

Here is an interesting statement. Or a warning. In any case, it should listen to him. But just in case we give them our buttons to push not allow - for nothing. Let your tight!