robot learns to make facial expressions, is rewarded with a measly “signal”

July 10th, 2009 comments (2) stumble it! digg it! by: lambert v.

At least dogs get food when they get things right. This poor robot Einstein, made by computer scientists from the Machine Perception Laboratory at the University of California, San Diego, was given time to play with its 31 artificial facial muscles while “staring” at its reflection in the mirror. The robot was also equipped with a camera as well as facial recognition software, so that when it happened upon a human facial expression while it was experimenting, the software would send a “reward signal” to the robot. That must have been one hell of a signal.

The scientists’ next goal is to get the Einstein robot to socialize, and eventually robot tormentors tutors.

Marian Bartlett, a facial recognition expert who was a part of the experiment, said that the aim is to use robots to conduct one-on-one tutoring, which she says can improve learning “by as much as two standard deviations.” Sounds like they want our kids to go insane.

[via Wired]

filed under:  future tech interactive robots strange + wonderful technology

July 10th, 2009 comments (2): stumble it! digg it! by: lambert v.