Can't find what you're looking for? Try Google Search!

Custom Search

Monday, August 31, 2009

Insurance and Call Center Job Interview Questions to Ask and Answer

Are you someone who interviews job applicants in the insurance, market research or call center industries? Are you someone who wants to work in one of these fields? I have worked as a telemarketer and market research telephone interviewer and I have a good idea of what it is like to work as a call center representative.
If you hire candidates for these fields, you can learn good questions to ask to find the right employee. If you are a job seeker who handles people, stress and adversity well, you will learn how to answer questions you might be asked in an interview while saying what is truly in your heart.
Insurance Agent: "I would sometimes give you a script to follow when calling a particular group of prospects. How would you handle it?"
Job Applicant: "I would handle the situation well. I closely follow directions; additionally, I can say everything I need to say and answer a prospect's questions while being conversational and not coming across as a robot."
Insurance Agent: "You will be hung up on at least once in a while. How would you react?"
Job Applicant: "If I am hung up on, I will not let it bother me. I will simply continue to make calls while remaining happy all day."
Insurance Agent: "This job involves telemarketing. Your job will be to call prospects on a list I assign to you and write leads by recording brief information and setting up a potential appointment with the prospect to receive an insurance quote from me. How do you feel about this?"
Job Applicant: "I am excited. I do not become bored on the job and I love chatting with other people."
Insurance Agent: "How familiar are you with the insurance industry?"
Job Applicant: "I am very familiar with auto insurance and I have done research on your company."
Telephone Interview Hiring Manager: "We expect our employees to be professional. How would you conduct yourself?"
Job Applicant: "I would always talk professionally and be courteous to the interview respondents, my fellow workers and the management team."
Telephone Interview Hiring Manager: "Are you up to the challenge of making dozens of calls while enduring periods when only a few people will answer the telephone?"
Job Applicant: "Yes. I will always bring plenty of energy and enthusiasm."
Telephone Interview Hiring Manager: "What will you do if you are hung up on once you introduce yourself to a respondent?"
Job Applicant: "I might call the person back to see if we were disconnected while maintaining my cool."
Call Center Hiring Manager: "Let's say an irate caller insults or bawls you out because he is frustrated with our service. How will you handle this scenario?"
Job Applicant: "I will stay calm, ask him questions relevant to his situation and do my best to help him. If he will not stop verbally abusing me, I will just hang up. I will never stoop to a caller's level by returning verbal abuse."
Call Center Hiring Manager: "Accuracy, speed and attention to detail are very important for this position. How can you fulfill these requirements?"
Job Applicant: "I am a fast, accurate typist and I have a good listening aptitude. I will ask a caller to spell her name and address while recording it and if I'm not sure about something she tells me, I will politely ask her for clarification."
Call Center Hiring Manager: "You will sometimes receive a heavy call volume and be needed to handle a few hundred calls. Is this likely to be a problem for you?"
Job Applicant: "No. I have lots of energy and I do not let stress overwhelm me."
Call Center Hiring Manager: "We sometimes require reps to work nights and weekends. Would you be flexible?"
Job Applicant: "Yes."
Call Center Hiring Manager: "What will you do if you cannot solve a caller's problem?"
Job Applicant: "I will ask a fellow worker or supervisor for help."
Let this dialogue be your guide for hiring the right person or being hired for a position in the insurance, telephone interview or call center fields!

FTC Hangs Up on Robot Dialing Aftermarket Auto Insurance Telemarketers

It is very good to see that the Federal Trade Commission has stopped all the robot dialing aftermarket auto insurance salespeople from calling us on our cell phones and driving up ourselves on bills. Still, one has to ask why it didn't happen sooner and how come these companies got away with this for so long.
Now I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I just bet that some of these aftermarket auto insurance companies were making quite a bit of money and they were funding various political campaigns of our elected representatives. Having a few Congressmen or Senators in your hip pocket makes it very easy to operate in a gray area of law, and that's what was happening.
In fact, it wasn't until millions of phone calls were made to the Federal Trade Commission, and other consumer groups, along with the phone company that anyone took a real notice. Then one senator actually got tired of the robot dialing telemarketers calling his cell phone and so he did something about it.
Now, one can only imagine that the cell phone companies didn't want to stop it because they were making a few cents every time a cell phone was dialed, so they were actually in on the moneymaking, even if they didn't approve of the abuse.
So, in a way it's very good that the Federal Trade Commission or FTC was able to hang up on these robot dialing aftermarket auto insurance telemarketers finally, it's just too bad it didn't happen sooner. In fact I can tell you this, in my business I have a number of 800 numbers, and it was costing me at least $25 per month for these telemarketing companies to call on our company cell phones, per phone.
I don't suppose we can get some consumer redress or some money back from all those companies that called us even though they were prohibited from doing this under our telemarketing laws? Please consider all this, as even if the consumer is glad to have these telemarketing calls stopped, they are still left paying the bill.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

What Will the Artificial Intelligent Robotic Androids Be like in the Future?


The answer is relatively simple and you can expect artificially intelligent robotic androids in the home similar to the Hollywood movie "AI" and your artificial intelligent robotic androids will also be a member of the family and a companion.
Of course in the future there will be colonies on Mars and on the moon and artificially intelligent systems will help humans run these habitats to protect them from harm. Of course there will be similar systems protecting our nation from harm. Our national defense will be made up of artificially intelligent robotic computer systems including AI in the net centric battle space.
The entire logistics supply chain for the military will run using artificially intelligent software that predicts the needs as they occur in real time. The NSA, FBI and the CIA will all have artificially intelligent supercomputers scanning trillions of bytes of information every minute in order to protect our country.
Will artificially intelligent robotic androids merge with humans?
We are already seen artificial parts used in the medical industry to help people with lost limbs in the future these robotic arms and legs will run by way of wireless devices in be controlled by thought from the brain. Should we be alarmed with the Merging of Man And Machine?
AI On Your Brain and AI Controlling Your Electronics By Thought?
Indeed, in the future you may be able to get your Ph.D. and it will be simply a small chip of information that you will plug into your brain port. You can have multiple Ph.D.'s in many different subjects and your resume will truly be out of this world coupling artificial intelligence with real human intelligence.

Android Robotic Companions and Aging Issues


Wouldn’t it be great to have the perfect friend, but what if your best friend was not human or a dog? What if your best friend was an artificially intelligent android robot? You can order your robotic android with a personality and pleasing facial features. Only one problem with robots they never get old, but you will!
As you get older you will want your robotic companion to also get older and perhaps get upgrades. You will also want it to move slower, talk slower and react slower to fit your delicate human aging. Indeed, the robot when it goes in for repairs, upgrades or new systems, perhaps you will wish to adjust its personality and facial features.
For those researchers, scientists and designers of consumer based electronic artificially intelligent robotic androids; they will need to be acutely aware of the needs of the marketplace. Humans do not stay young forever, thus neither can their companion and domestic family robots.
Aging wrinkles and sagging facial features must be added in all standard equipment for all domestic family robots and personal companion androids. Change into hair to gray is the easy part, but adjusting the program to mimic a person and old age may be quite another issue and perhaps a challenge for robotic designers.

Robotic Soldiers to Hide Thermal Imprint


In the new modern battlespace with the use of thermal imaging and infrared devices it will be difficult for humans to use the element of surprise on their enemies as they would be easily detected. Both sides of the conflict will indeed have this capability using a multitude of devices such as goggles, scopes and night vision apparatus.
In the new battlespace it therefore makes sense to use robotic soldiers and war fighting devices rather than humans to defeat its enemy. Robots will not have human heat signatures and can be set at the temperature of your choice for instance the ambient air temperature makes sense.
Robotic weapons rather than human combat will become the new paradigm. If we as a nation expect to protect and defend the sanctity of human life, democracy and freedom and promote liberty the world over we must consider these facts as we press onward and upward to the future.
The forward progress of mankind is at stake, along with all we are and all we have already built in our great civilization and those, which are well on their way in emerging from the fray. We must not allow ego to stand in our path of the future fighting force initiatives, robotic soldiers and robotic weapons on the ground make as much or more sense than the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles we now rely upon in the air for surveillance and information in the battlespace.

Robotic Companions, Assistants and Spies







There is no doubt that in the future so many of the jobs we humans do which are tedious, unpleasant or extremely dangerous will in fact be done by robotic assistants. Already we see funding for robotic assistant projects for the military, which can walk a soldier or military hardware technician through an procedure, as a talking interactive manual.
We all know that in technology advances that military and entertainment are two big forces of funding the future. Eventually these robotic artificial intelligent units will be able to become our best friends, assistants and even help us with dangerous jobs like secret covert spies for the CIA;
http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=8425af312970b69f5ff393ab42419449&showtopic=1641
http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=8425af312970b69f5ff393ab42419449&showtopic=675
http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?showtopic=548
There is a lot of funding taking place and nearly unlimited potential applications for such things. The science of building androids is serious business as it spans everything from haptics (feeling and touch sensors) to artificial intelligence design and programming. I also believe there is a lot of very good work being done in video games and VR.
http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=59a911200ed8562cb67b040091aee2f0&showtopic=697
If you have such thoughts you may find yourself in a lucrative career as a robotic designer, artificial intelligent programmer or even a computer human interface behavioral specialist. Or you might win the biggest artificial intelligent android competition in the world at www.RoboPrize.com. It is totally up to you.

Talking Robotic Androids are Hear!

The future is coming forth much faster than expected with artificial intelligent robotic androids. In Japan they are giving American research and development companies, universities and institutes a run for their money. How much further have the Japanese come? Well NASATech News reports that;
"Researchers at Waseda University (Tokyo, Japan) have constructed a robotic vocalization system that mimics the articulators used in human speech-making. Called the WT Series, the system includes robotic equivalents of the vocal cavity, tongue, vocal chords, cheeks, lips, teeth, soft palate, nasal cavity, nose, and lungs."
Soon we will have new robotic android assistants that we will barely be able to tell that they are not real and they will provide companionship for the elderly and even in-home care, which is good due to the coming crisis with the shortage of nurses.
Imagine robotic android nannies and teacher assistants for our children? Great for day care centers, referees on the playground and security guards at school. These innovations are nearly here and this is great news for our job shortage issues in the United States.
Soon robotic assistants can and will function just like regular humans only better because they will not have all the negative behavior traits unless we program those into them too. So, perhaps we have a lot to look forward too in the near future.

Robotic Arm Technology Has Rapidly Improved

Cybernetics professor Kevin Warwick professes to be the "first Cyborg." Project Cyborg began in August of 1998, when Warwick implanted a computer chip into his left arm, which later allowed him to open doors, move a robotic hand and operate an electronic wheelchair. The implant also allowed him to tap into the Internet at Columbia University in New York and control a robotic arm at the University of Reading in the UK.
Another one of the experiments tested telepathic communication between two individuals by way of implants. In the 70s, researchers felt that robotic arms would be a vital asset to the workplace. Little did they know, humans would consider fusing themselves with this technology to become super-human cyborgs!
Starting in 1975, robotic arms have been used for industrial purposes. In some cases, they do the work more quickly, more accurately and more efficiently than human workers ever could. Yet in other instances, they simply perform work that is too monotonous, dangerous or undesirable for men and women.
In the US auto industry, for example, there is one robotic arm for every ten workers. Industrial robots lift heavy objects, handle chemicals, and paint and assemble parts. Rather than replace jobs, the robotic system is intended to free up more creative, fulfilling work for people instead. After all, the Czech word "robota" translates to "drudgery work."
Using a modified robotic arm, Dr. Alon Wolf and Dr. Howie Choset have developed a machine that can perform minimally-invasive surgery with great accuracy. The invention is called the "CardioARM" and has been designed for abdominal surgery, heart bypass surgery and mouth surgery, but can also be used to perform a laparoscopy, colonoscopy, and arthroscopy.
The CardioARM is operated by a joystick and can navigate through the body to the problem areas. The flexible tele-operated probe is programmed to remember pathways and it can take tools into regions that surgeons would otherwise have to slice into. "Tools in operation rooms are not flexible. The CardioARM is flexible enough for remote and hard to reach anatomies," explains Dr. Wolf. "The heart is a good example... now we don't have to cut the person open."
Robotic arm technology has rapidly improved over the span of just thirty years. But what is the end goal of robotics technology? Is it to build robots that can work as our slaves? Is it to find minimally-invasive, infallible methods of performing surgery? Is it to treat injuries? Is it to teach? Or is it to become super-humans? There are a number of ways to approach this science, making it impossible to tell just what the future of robotic development holds.

Taking a Look at the History of Robotic Technology

Robotic technology can be found in clocks, remote control vehicles, automobile computers, Aibo, factory robotic arms, self-guided rovers, service bots like ASIMO, robotic toys like AIBO or Robo-Raptor and a CNC milling machine. To be considered a "robot," the specimen must be able to interact with its environment and physically do something. Most recently, robots are being used in surgery, disaster recovery and firefighting.
Historically, ancient people believed in the existence of a humanoid robot species. The Greek god Hephaestus was thought to have created mechanical servants to help him build temples. Furthermore, the Jewish people thought that clay golems could come to life and the Norse believed that clay giants could awaken. In 4th Century BC, Greek mathematicians Archytas of Tarentum proposed that he could create a steam-powered bird known as "The Pigeon." Additionally, Hero of Alexandria (10-70 AD) devised automated machinery powered by air pressure and steam.
In 1088, Su Song developed the first clock tower that was built using mechanical figurines and audible chimes. In 1206, the first humanoid robot was created by Al-Jazari, a Muslim inventor who wished to entertain royal guests with automated musicians who played on a boat in a lake. Al-Jazari was already well-known for constructing everything from kitchen appliances and other astounding robotic machines.
There are many different ways to think about robotic technology. For instance, do we want an artificial being to look like a human or an unmistakable nuts-and-bolts prototype? Should they go to work at the plant or in our own homes? Should they think for themselves or be simply capable of pre-programmed simplified tasks?
There are "soft robots," which have silicone bodies and flexible actuators that behave almost human-like. There are "swarm robots" that behave like bees or ants, cooperating together to find something, clean, explore space or spy. "Haptic interface robots" allow users to interact with virtual simulation environments. Engineers are always coming up with new designs and uses for automation robotics.
Robotic technology is continually progressing. Early prototypes used steam, water or air, while new robotic prototypes use actuators, electric DC motors and air muscles. To study robotics engineering, interested students can attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which is the only school that offers a Bachelor of Science in Robotics Engineering.
Other schools have graduate programs based on robotics automation, including Carnegie Mellon University, MIT, UPENN and UCLA. To increase early interest in this field, programs like FIRST Robotics were devised to encourage students as young as six to look to math, science and technology fields for hobbies.

Robotic and Organic Large Insect Modification for Military Use

The modern battlespace is going robotic faster than ever before and in the future human armies will not be used to any large degree as a means to attack one’s enemies. Human armies take up too much space, are too easily injured or killed, as well as eat too much, complain too much and are too easily emotionally traumatized. We will have robotic unmanned aerial and ground vehicles, even underwater robotic vehicles which will be void of human life and fully autonomous or remotely controlled thru super bandwidth encrypted light communication via satellite, relays, AWACS, command centers and off shore aircraft carriers.
As we move towards robotic warfare some scientists and researchers are contemplating how best to defend their positions from human insurgents, guerilla warfare and the new paradigm of urban warfare and resistance. Employing local organic species of the region or slightly modified organic life forms may indeed to prove quite effective in the interim where the robotic cannot quite keep up with the situational awareness and limited sensor capabilities needed to fight a hostile force which is protected under cover and has available to them means of EA or Electronic Attack which renders most robotics completely useless.
It maybe smart to take some living samples of the region and modify those species DNA to be stronger and have more agility and fit them with some robotic parts, which would run off the electromagnetic energy of the organic life form as it makes motion. You see evolution has done a terrific job and had a 400-million year head start with regards to insect life and anything we can do now with robotics they generally can do better. Using various methods of gene manipulation we can cause these insects to become more territorial, more aggressive, larger, develop bigger stingers and better agility to take out our enemies or defend our borders from an aggressor, whether it be robotic or human armies or a combination there of. Please think on this.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Free advertising
Free advertising

Other Possible Applications of Robots

Robots in Our World Today
Currently, we are enjoying the benefits of the advancements in the field of robotics. Many factories and other industrial facilities utilize robots for both manufacturing and research. In medical facilities, robots are used in order to ensure the precision measurements required when mixing chemicals. They are also utilized when handling dangerous bio hazards in order to prevent the contamination and spread of diseases.
In industrial facilities, robots take on less delicate roles and focus more on doing what machines do best, doing heavy work. From doing heavy lifting to high-heat welding, robots surpass human workers in both strength and the ability to withstand inhospitable work conditions.
Unique Uses of Robots in Our Society
Of course, those are not the only purposes robots take in our society. Scientists and engineers are looking to develop robotic technology further, increasing both the range of abilities and mobility of robots. Robots can have a variety of mobility options, from bipedal legs to treadmills, they can be made to walk, crawl, roll and slither through different terrain.
Some robots are also equipped with climbing, hanging and flight capabilities that allow them to be used in different environments. This is one reason why military applications of robots are highly researched and funded.
Aside from exploring, robots can also be equipped with many sensory devices that would increase their abilities to detect and analyze objects around them. Radar, sonar, GPS and other navigation technology can provide robots with ways to find and map their way through both familiar and unfamiliar technology.
Visual sensing devices such as infrared, thermal heat detection and x-ray technology when applied would increase the visual range capabilities of robots beyond that of normal eyesight. Robots, being mechanized in their nature, are naturally tougher and harder than their human counterparts.
A proper supply of energy to fuel a robot would ensure that it would not stop for food or rest. While robots also require the occasional maintenance, repairing a robot is much easier than bringing a sick human back to health.
Use of Robots beyond Our Society
As previously stated, robots are perfect for exploration and they are able to withstand inhospitable environments. This means we can send robots to locations such as that of extreme cold like the arctic, extreme heat like active volcanoes, to areas of extreme pressure such as that of the Mariana's Trench. The deployment and usage of robots in these areas would enable our scientists to research and learn ore about these areas that are not normally studied due to the hazards of the areas.
Robots can also be sent to outer space and extra-terrestrial landscapes since they are able to function in areas that are inaccessible to humans. Aside from inhospitable areas, robots are also expected to function in very hostile locations such as today's modern battlefields. With the development of weapons advancing at a very rapid pace, the mortality of soldiers are quickly moving towards a very dangerous direction. The solution is to create armies of unmanned automatons, combat-ready robots that are able to follow mission directives and execute commands with precision.

Build Robots Illinois

If you live in illinois and If you want to build robots illinois,you may have found issues trying to find a store or class that will help you. When you find others that want to also build robots illinois, you can share ideas and tips to make your experience the very best. If you live in illinois and you can find a place that offers basic to advanced courses on starting to build robot in chicago area, the this may be the right choice considering that means that their all levels of skill and theres a good chance you can find others who enjoy your hobby as much as you. Now you may have been thinking well i like robots, but I never built one before. The right training and classes can help you enjoy the process of making something from scratch. This means that you can learn individually, in groups, and even have birthday parties if you have the right place. Thats means that your son or daughter or you can have a group of people get together, enjoy friends and family, and enjoy the wonderful world of robotics. If you take any kid to build robots illinois, they are going to let their imagination take them away and this means they will have the best time. So now you can make this a family or social event. If you live in chicagoland area and you are interesting in finding out more about build robots illinois, robot classes and supplies and parties, then visit http://www.robotcityworkshop.com/ to learn more. Now you may have seen kits and things in stores that offer you a chance to build a robot, but most of those are very basic and some times leave you or someone wanting more out of the building experience. So when you find the right store, you will be able to find anything you ever wanted to make your robot the best possible. I have seen some make basic robots that just walk or roll around, I have seen advanced robots where they pick things up and talk, so you can choose what level you would like to start. No matter what your level of skill, there is a robot out there that you can build and that would be right for you. The great thing is you can start basic and then work your way up to more advanced kits or building, this way you can be learning and creating something that you have an interest in.

A New Revolution in Teaching Autistic Children - Using Humanlike Robots

A new experiment shows that autistic children are much more responsive toward robots than humans. If the robots are human in form, they can play the role of a tutor or even a mentor to an autistic child in their learning requirements. These robots are made to resemble humans as closely as possible. The name given to such robots used in teaching autistic children is 'socially assistive' robots.
Probably the reason behind autistic children being more responsive toward robots is their patience. Autistic children are known to be repetitive about their tasks. They do things over and over again. While that could frustrate a human, a robot can easily be programmed to handle these repetitive tasks. For example, if an autistic child needs to be taught a simple math formula, a human teacher could be irked a few failed attempts, but a robot will not.
Such robots have been designed at the University of Southern California. One robot made for the purpose of teaching autistic children in their daily tasks has gained wide renown. This robot, named as Bandit, can do a variety of tasks. He can play with the children, smile or frown at them, nod or shake his head to express assent or dissent and so on. The robot has also been equipped with some intelligent maneuvering capabilities. He can move toward the child slowly, but if the child gets intimidated and runs behind him, he will stop so as not to stress out the child further.
Bandit has become a successful experiment in working with autistic children. It has been seen that autistic children who are kept in close companionship with Bandit begin speaking more.
Another such robot developed for the special purpose of allowing autistic children to read facial expressions is Casper. This robot has a very simplistically designed face, which allows the children to check out all its nuances. Children do not feel intimidated to touch his face and explore it.
However, despite whatever these robots have been equipped to do so far, there are some things that they cannot yet do. One of the most significant shortcomings of these robots is that they cannot read the emotions playing in the children's minds. They cannot understand how a child will react to a particular situation.
An attempt is being made in this direction by Professor Nilanjan Sarkar and his team at the Vanderbilt University. His team has designed a robot-based basketball base. The game contains a hoop that moves with various rhythms, through which the children are supposed to throw differently colored balls. The activity is accompanied with different kinds of music to keep the child better engrossed. The child is made to wear several sensors that measure elements like their heart beat and the extent of their muscle twitching. This conveys to the robot whether the child is at ease or getting frustrated. Based on that, the robot changes its tempo of the game. This creates in the child a kind of cause-effect understanding. They understand what might happen if they carry out a particular action. This can give a clear insight into what working with autistic children is like.
Humanoids have attained a place of their own in the field of education for autistic children. However, there is still a lot of research to be done before these can be considered as effective guides for the children. The research still continues.

A Look into the Morality of Military Research into Automated Robots

The Growing Trend of Robot Weapons
The concept of a robot soldier has long been etched into society with the help of media and science fiction. Indeed, the concept of an automated machine going to the battle field plants the idea that wars would bring less death as a result of having less human soldiers on the field. However, this is a grave misconception and the continued leaning towards the use of automated machines in war could prove to be more disastrous than it is promising.
The mere convenience of being able to program, command and control robots from a relatively safe distance from the actual battle field may be a dream for many field commanders, but the reality will eventually dawn on humanity that we stand to lose more if we let machines fight our own wars.
The Myth of Invulnerability, Why Machines Tempt Us So Much
People love the idea of machines going to war because of the simple fact that if a machine goes, they will not have to. While this may be true for some ground infantry units, there will always be a limit to how far a person would be from the battlefield. Second, one of the limiting factors in a war is the loss of life. When an army is taking too many casualties, it is likely that they will surrender and thus end the war. A battle between robot armies could take years depending on the capabilities of the robots. The amount of destruction they could cause can render an area uninhabitable for long periods of time.
One other problem is that countries will be more likely to engage in war itself. Without fearing the loss of its own countrymen, any country can begin a war, retaliate with violence or even join in an existing war; all because robots are available for use. While we have yet to reach that point that manufacturing a robot costs less than training a human soldier, it will eventually happen. When that time comes, not even financial restraints would prevent a country from becoming a part of a war.
The Bigger Picture with Mechanized Weapons of War
The biggest problem with any automated machine that is armed and dangerous is that there is no way to program it perfectly. Even home computers, which are sold on a consumer basis, suffer from bugs and glitches. There is simply no way to ensure that a robot on the field of battle would not suffer software malfunctions.
If you factor in the obvious tactic of enemy units using viruses and other anti-software attacks (a digital bio-weapon), then a robots might as well shed its armor plating. This current inefficiency is the reason why unmanned weapons are still being remotely controlled. Manual input is also something that can be exploited which is why only a few unmanned weapons and vehicles are deployed for missions.
If this is done too often and in large quantities, then enemies would begin to take measure to not only disrupt the long range control systems, but would also attempt to over ride it for their own needs.

Japan; the New Birthplace of Robots

From Toys to Tech, Why Japan is a Robot's Number One
Japan is the country that gave the world giant robots, small robots and human sized robots. From the fictional Mobile Suit Gundam to the small tea-making robot maid, Japan's robotics technology has been pushing the limits of our minds and imagination. Just this July 2009, Japan has unveiled a giant life sized model of the fictional robot RX-78-2 Gundam at Tokyo's Odaiba park. This structure is not a robot, but is a model of one. This is a testament to the nation's dedication and fondness for the field of robotics.
In recent years, automobile manufacturers Honda and Toyota have been in research and developing humanoid robots. Asimo, Honda's robot, is more popularly known and has become the icon of robotics in this day and age. Asimo is able to carry items, walk, sprint a little and jump all while staying on its two feet. It is also equipped with sensors for detecting and identifying people, and has excellent control of its hands, allowing it to hold both fragile and heavy objects.
Day to Day Japanese Robots
Robots are not limited in shape and form to be similar to humans; many robots in use today are found in industrial factories, performing tasks inappropriate for humans such as doing precision laser welding, carrying heavy loads and even really boring tasks like moving a box from one platform to another.
Recently the utilization of these robotic arms and limbs has been moved outside the factory and into more unconventional locations. One such example is a noodle shop in Japan where the ramen is made by robots. Of course, taking orders and accepting payments are done by humans, the broth or ramen stock is also prepared by humans. The robot limbs ensure the ramen is cooked consistently and accurately, garnishes and toppings are accurately measured and added into the broth. They also prepare the ramen fast, in less than two minutes.
There are also robots being used to make coffee. The mini coffee-making robot maid is a small humanoid robot that stands a little below five inches. She has legs for movement and arms for grabbing objects. When all utensils and ingredients for making coffee are positioned in exact locations, the robot maid will scoop up the proper measurement of coffee, sugar and cream, pour hot water and stir the brew properly.
Of course, this only works if every single item it located at the proper area since the robot cannot easily detect items. Should this technology be perfected, we would eventually be able to enjoy the service of fully automated robot helpers.
Robots in Today's Japan
Japan also has claim on many robot firsts. They have made a robot that has modeled on the catwalk. They also created a robot teacher who could teach class and recognize students. From tour guides, to receptionists, Japan is slowly creating robots that would perform many service oriented tasks. While robot may gain more and more usage, their presence is not meant to substitute that of humans. Robots are being developed to do our jobs so that we can spend more time focusing on living our lives.

Robots of Fiction and Reality

The Thin Line of Technology and Reality
As any science fiction reader would know, there are a lot of discrepancies between what reality is and what is only in fiction. As science fiction is the branch of literature that delves most into what the future holds for us, science fiction stories serve as an intellectual forecast into the direction our technology is headed. Still, much remains to be accomplished. Many works of fiction predict that we would now be using flying cars and have commercial access to space travel. In fact, research and development into these fields are far from becoming close to reality.
Of the many facets of science fiction, robotics is fast catching up to its fictional hype. From automated war machines deployed in combat to nano-machines made to explore and diagnose human patients, there are a lot of robots in our time. While very few robots today match the humanlike appearance or sophisticated behavior we see in fiction, the robots of reality are nothing to be scoffed at, for it is truly they who help make the impossible things happen.
Application of Robot Technology in Today's Culture
The best advantage of a robot is more than the fact that it is a robot, but because it is not a human. With that, the consideration of health, safety, well being and other important factors are thrown out the window. While damage to a robot would incur losses financially, it would not mean the loss of life. This is why robots can be made to do many difficult and dangerous tasks that others would not be able to do. Also a robots accuracy and lack of need for food or rest makes it an ideal worker that will not tire no matter how difficult or mind numbing a task may be.
Robots that are present today are most often seen in factories. These robots tend to specialize in one particular part of production. From welding to painting, to lifting and to crushing, robots are able to perform their tasks with accuracy and speed that far surpasses that of human workers. There are also robots that handle other non-industrial applications. There are land surveying robots, and the lunar and Martian probes that are able to access rough terrain and analyze dirt and soil samples.
Pushing the Edge of Technology with Military Application
Still, in today's times, nothing pushes an economy forward faster then a military objective. Even the field of robotics has been advanced greatly due to the great benefit that robots would give to the military. Many unmanned drones and surveillance devices were developed from research into robotics.
Even the Hybrid Assistive Limb system developed to aid handicapped people use inactive limbs has been adapted into military technology, allowing soldiers to fully utilize their body strength by augmenting the suit to their bodies. Of course, these are just mere adaptations of existing robot technology into products that are not robots. Robots in themselves are far more valuable to the army. Fully automated machines that can find, identify and eliminate a specified target are the holy grail of military robot technology.

ROBOT

What is Robot?