Big Brother/Center for Innovative Robotics

Last one for today from ER:

Here’s an update on the link to the Center for Innovative Robotics: http://www.ri.cmu.edu/

RO-MAN adresses fundamental issues in coexistence of robots and humans from psychological and philosophical aspects over interaction and communication mechanisms to technological systems and architectures. Manifold real-world application areas such as rescue, assistance, care, education, or entertainment require cognitive and social skills in order to provide safe, intuitive, and efficient interaction and goal-directed proactive behavior. Along with gradual development of those fundamental capabilities robots grow from basic tools to unique entities which not only are able to assist but may also take charge of situations arising and in near future form unique characters distinguishing them from one another. Robots with humanlike personality traits will contribute to raise acceptance, benefit social integration and interindividual relationships, and facilitate human-robot professional task forces and social groups. RO-MAN brings together a broad interdisciplinary community of students and scientists of psychology, cognitive science, computer science, robotics, and more. We cordially invite you to contribute to make RO-MAN ‘08 a stimulating event and enjoyable come together...

Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:

• Embodied interaction and communication
• Multi-modal communication
• Philosophical issues of human-robot coexistence
• Cognitive psychology in human-robot interactions
• Artificial emotion and emotional communication
• Human factors evaluations for human-robot systems
• Robotic therapy and medical/surgical applications
• Socially interactive robots
• Entertainment and education robots
• Face and body expression and recognition
• Collaborative robotics in manufactoring environments
• Situation recognition and understanding of task contents
• Motion, task planning, and coordination in human-robot teams
• Skill acquisition through teaching, interaction, or imitation
• Robot assistants for housekeeping and care

This side of the patented technology that seems interesting:

Microsoft revs its patent machine

“However, I'm hearing that this patent is more aimed at building a more useful and relevant help system into software than it is at offering a snooping tool for bosses.”

“This particular patent application, in general, describes an innovation aimed at improving activity-monitoring systems and uses the monitoring of user heart rate as an example of the kind of physical state that could be monitored to detect when users need assistance with their activities, and to offer assistance by putting them in touch with other users who may be able to help," Gutierrez said.
"It is important to keep in mind that with most organizations in the business of innovation, some of our patent applications reflect inventions
that are currently present in our products, and other applications represent innovations being developed for potential future use."

Maybe this technology is being researched as they enter the robotics race (Microsoft Center for Innovative Robotics) such as "remote presence," or smart products that can alert the elderly to take medication at the prescribed time, for example.” I think mostly of this technology being used with the elderly or who are under medical care.