Hiroshi Ishiguro builds his evil android twin: Geminoid HI-1

Seems like Hiroshi Ishiguro decided that if he's going to be a roboticist he might as well be a total badass about it, and has developed an "angry eyes" version of himself, the Geminoid HI-1. Other than a few Parent Trap inspired shenanigans we're sure he pulls on fellow researchers at ATR Intelligent Robotics and Communication Laboratories near Kyoto, Ishiguro is mainly using the bot to teach his classes for him, and creep out students with lifelike movements such as blinking, "breathing" and fidgeting. The bot can be remotely controlled via a motion capture system that tracks Ishiguro's mouth movements and allows the bot to speak his voice -- or that of an assistant if he's feeling particularly listless. The incredible realism comes from silicone molds cast from Ishiguro's own body, similar to the process behind a certain female resident of the uncanny valley, and is a bit of an experiment in the viability of telepresence. Ishiguro wants to find out if he can really command the attention of a classroom with a mere robot doppelgänger, but we're sure he doesn't mind skipping that commute either.

[marsel @ Jul 21st 2006 9:34AM]

thats some crazy crap right there. i want one of me that way it will be purty.

[Galley @ Jul 21st 2006 9:45AM]

I give up, which one is the robot, and which one is the creepy dude?

[SurfedToTheEndAndBack @ Jul 21st 2006 9:57AM]

I think the robot is the one on the left. It has a better haircut.

Then again, what would a robot need headphones for?

[timetex @ Jul 21st 2006 9:58AM]

I, for one, welcome our evil android overlords.

[Atro @ Jul 21st 2006 10:03AM]

Didn't RealDolls do this years ago? Ya know the love dolls made of silicon with metal skeletons that are posable. I don't recall any of them being "evil" but most of them were "naughty".

[Darth_Poo @ Jul 21st 2006 10:20AM]

I'm confused, which is which?

[Christian Dadosky @ Dec 21st 2007 2:06PM]

Angry eyes,dude! Use your damn head!

[James @ Jul 21st 2006 10:27AM]

the robot's on the left... it's not looking at the camera, and it's got 'angry eyes' :-)

[DM @ Jul 21st 2006 10:35AM]

"I, for one, welcome our evil android overlords."

give it a break, that line ceased being humourous aeons ago...

[aeo @ Jul 21st 2006 11:00AM]

It's more of an automoton than a robot. Show me the thing walking and navigating on its own and I'll be impressed. Otherwise, Disney has been building better looking animatronic puppets for decades.

[Anonymoose @ Jul 21st 2006 11:06AM]

My God, it's Rewis Brack!

[DarkMavis @ Jul 21st 2006 11:54AM]

"angry eyes" LOL... that's priceless man....

You guys kill me.

[FivePointO @ Jul 21st 2006 11:56AM]

The robot is indeed on the left. As you can tell it looks more lifeless, plus I checked the pics. It looks cool and promising. Yea you wouldnt have to commute all those miles and gas to work. It also goes along with what they are studying right? Great example and learning there.

[Dizzank @ Jul 21st 2006 12:21PM]

"Angry eyes"? What? Oh... my bad. I thought you said "retarded face".

[tunasauce @ Jul 21st 2006 1:13PM]

I'm sure REAL the question on everyone's mind is, who would win in a fight between Hiroshi Ishiguro and Mecha Hiroshi Ishiguro?

[blore40 @ Jul 21st 2006 4:26PM]

Rewris Brack! Hahaha!! Funny!!!

[rf_196_mcr @ May 28th 2009 10:54AM]

hehe i watched this on tv, the robots on the left O.o

i think its awesome.. albeit slightly creepy xD
the hair peice on the robot is ishiguro's actual hair =D

[iCat @ Oct 16th 2006 5:05AM]

Classy, very classy. Whichever bits were molded, I'm just a little surprised that he didn't think to do his face. Might have actually looked a little like him then.

[ezetarget @ Oct 16th 2006 4:39PM]

Both are robots.......geez!

[Fausto Intilla @ May 28th 2007 10:08AM]

"Molti sembrano certissimi che nessun calcolatore potrà mai essere senziente, cosciente, dotato di volontà propria, o in qualche altro modo “consapevole” di se stesso. Ma che cosa ci rende tutti così sicuri di possedere poi questa meravigliosa qualità? E’ vero che se c’è qualcosa di cui siamo sicuri, è proprio questo: “Io sono consapevole, dunque sono consapevole”. Ma cosa significano in realtà queste convinzioni? Se l’autoconsapevolezza significa sapere che cosa accade nella propria mente, nessun realista potrebbe sostenere a lungo che le persone abbiano molta intuizione, nel senso etimologico di “vedere dentro”. In effetti, le prove che noi siamo autoconsapevoli, cioè che possediamo qualche attitudine particolare a scoprire ciò che accade dentro di noi, sono davvero molto deboli"
Marvin Minsky

Buona lettura!:
http://www.ufologia.net/Public/data/Fausto%20Intilla/2007527164748_Androidi%20-%20di%20Fausto%20Intilla.pdf