Shaping Our Future Along with Robots
From: Japan Times - 12/31/2006
By: Tomoko Otake

Tsukuba University professor of engineering Yoshiyuki Sankai, who is a leader
in the field of "cybernics," where robotics meets various academic
disciplines, was recently interviewed concerning his expectations for
robotics in the near future. He thinks that in 2007 robotics efforts will
benefit from the 2005 government decision to "move on from the exploration of
basic technologies and start making prototypes, and also standardize our
technologies, both hardware and software, to foster the development of
robots. In 2007, several organizations will start test-marketing robot
products." Pet robots, hobby robots, and serious robots will all be
developed, in large part to help Japan's aging population. By 2020, Sankai
predicts that "robots and robotic technologies will be fully integrated in
our lives." His company's current projects are focusing on medical
applications, but future projects will focus on construction and fabrication
work. Sankai says that "mankind has given up on evolution by inventing and
utilizing various technologies. The gap between technology and people has
been big until now. But computers have become much easier to use, which means
people and technology are getting closer." He stresses that technology is
everywhere and is cutting down on distances between people, therefore
becoming an "extended part of ourselves." At the same time, he points out
that we must be careful of "technology getting out of control."  

Read the entire article at:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20061231x4.html

Links:
Yoshiyuki Sankai, Inventor of the Week Archive - Hybrid Assistive Limb
http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/sankai.html

Fascinating Documentary on Yoshiyuki Sankai - Father of the Modern Cyborg
http://tvinjapan.com/blog/2006/11/01/fascinating-documentary-on-yoshiyuki-sankai-father-of-the-modern-cyborg/

Rise of the Cyborg
http://www.forbes.com/2006/08/17/cz_tc_0817egangbots.html?partner=rss

Robot Suit HAL-5
http://www.g-mark.org/search/Detail?id=32900&lang=en

Robot suit will help quadriplegic scale the heights
http://www.theage.com.au/news/breaking/robot-suit-will-help-quadriplegic-scale-the-heights/2006/04/04/1143916503382.html

The bionic trousers
http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/004096.php

Exoskeletons
http://www.plyojump.com/exoskeletons.html

Japan ready to market "robot suit"
http://www.accessibility.com.au/news/health/robosuit.htm

Bionic suit offers wearers super-strength
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18624945.800
