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Tech Article 3/11

The Most Realistic Robot Yet!

The latest Geminoid robot created by a group of Japanese scientists is based off of a non-Japanese person. In this case, they created a robot who also had a goatee. This robot came from the same studio as the one of the Geminoid F robot who took the role as an actress.

This newest robot has the most human-like features. Its equipped with a motion-capture system that allows the robot to copy the expression or movement of the captured person.

Tech Article 3/3

Toyota's Humanoid Robots Perform in Tokyo

The new robots in Japan, made my Toyota, now can play music. It can play the violin and trumpet. Although this event seemed magnificent and really amazing, many people are still wondering if it really is the robot's ability to play or if it's just another tape recorder dressed as a humanoid robot.

Performance by the two humanoid robots playing the trumpet and violin accompanied by a human violinist.

However, many people criticized that these new robots are no better than any tape recorder. It can just play back what they hear instead of playing what the robots think "sounds right". The article doesn't go into full detail as to how these robots are playing the instruments, which brings up questions if the robots really are playing what they thought and imagined, instead of something that was recorded and they're just replaying it.

A performance that one of person suggested was if these robots can improvise. One of the musician's talents that many people look for is how well they can improvise songs. If a robot can achieve improvisation, it'd be a really advanced robot that people would be looking for.

Tech Article 2/25/11

In South Korea, All of Life is Mobile

One of the most famous technology of all times is cellphones, especially in South Korea. Children and adults are obsessed over cellphones and even depend on it. In the article, one person said that if she forgot her wallet she wouldn't notice it for a whole day, but if she lost her cellphone she won't be able to do anything.

Cellphones in Korea are advanced to have a lot of different applications. You can use it for a bus pass. You can also order and hold onto a book in the library. These cellphones can also be used to for T-money, an electronic cash stored in the SIM card and other phone chips where it can be refilled and used in daily use. The most famous usage is for a bus pass. It's so famous that there's even different techniques in using the buss pass on the phone.

One of the reasons that cellphones are very popular in Korea is because of its advertisement. Unlike American commercials where cellphones are portrayed as just 'cool' in a CG background, South Korea likes to promote their merchandise with popular idols and idol groups. They also have different features that are not found in American phones.

Over the Weekend

boring weekend... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Saturday: I really didn't do anything...I woke up at 2 in the afternoon and I literally stayed in my bed using the computer, listening to music and watching drama. At around 6:30, my mom asked me to make dinner so I made food, ate it, and watched TV till my family came home and got my hair dyed.

Sunday: I woke up too early...I had church that morning, but I went to CVS anyway to go buy chocolate for the youth group :) I'm in charge of teaching the middle school kids and they are way too annoying, but whatever, they're funny. After that, I went home...the end.

Tech Article 2/17/11

Video: 'Affetto,' A Disembodied Japanese Baby Head, Takes Uncanny Valley to New Depths

The new baby robot was created in Osaka University of Japan where a team of three men managed to develop a baby robot that resembles that of a 1 or 2 year old. This specific product was to help study caregiver-child interaction.

Because many people have trouble communicating with a robot, the team tried to make this baby look as realistic as possible. This baby robot has different facial expressions that it can show through lifting eyebro

ws, tilting the head, and etc. They also applied silicone skin with cameras in the eyes and a microphone.

This is the beginning of a project to further develop a full-bodied robot that's similar to a real human being.

Tech Article 2/11/11

The Catholic Church has approved an app that simulates confession

Catholic church gives blessing to iPhone app

The new iPhone app helps Catholics to make confessions. The church never approved of any application or technological stuff until today. The priest even told his followers that they should embrace the new technology, but don't indulge in it.

The application would help guide Catholics in their confessions. It would also help them admit their wrongdoings and allow them to keep track of their sins. This new app wouldn't replace the traditional confession but rather encourages the people to seek the priest even more to find their absolution.

The application was built in a base in Indiana. The company took the priest's words in mind that they shouldn't make the digital world the main concept and even had other priests to come and help them create this application.

Many people think that this is the first time that the church is involving themselves in the technological wold, they had a Youtube channel in 2007 and in 2009 a Facebook application that allowed people to send digital postcards.