Week 3: Robotics + Art

“The Robots.” Leonardo Da Vinci, www.leonardorobotsociety.org/the-robots.html.

In 1495 the artist, architect, inventor and in many ways the scientist, Leonardo da Vinci invented the "automata that could sit, eat, open its mouth... Pretty much one step away from what we would call today a robot"(Vesna). This was the first verifiable automation.

One country that has embraced Leonardo da Vinci's creation is Japan. At the end of World War II, Japan had to modernize very rapidly.  What transpired is supported by the German philosopher Benjamin Walter's theory that "...Only war makes it possible to mobilize all of today's technical resources while maintaining the property system" (Benjamin). Now Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries due in part to the consequence of war.

Japan has been highly successful in bridging the gap between robotics and art. Human robots are used to help elderly people and assist in rescuing victims from disasters, such as earthquakes. Robots are designed to look more human-like with friendly faces, which prevents scaring or shocking the public. "Historically, the push for rescue robotics started in 1995 as outcomes of the tragic loss of life in the Hanshin– Awajii earthquake in Kobe, Japan"(Murphy, 1152). The comfort robots are designed to look like pets in order to comfort survivors, which demonstrates how robots aren't just utilized for industrial purposes.

Saleh, Naveed. “Does the Paro Seal Have Actual Therapeutic Value?” Verywell Health, www.verywellhealth.com/paro-the-therapeutic-robot-seal-1123855.

Robots in Japan are found in manga and in popular culture. One example of this is Astroboy who is a robot who can fly and is empowered by nuclear energy. He exhibits human emotion. Astroboy was called the child of science. He was supposed to bring hope and courage to future Japanese generations following the defeat of World War II, which it did.

“Astro Boy | / Anime / in 2019 | Astro Boy, Boy Tattoos, Boy Art.” Pinterest, 5 Feb. 2019, www.pinterest.com/pin/9710955418279682/?lp=true.

In Japan the distinction between artist and engineer isn't as clearly delineated as in the west. There are engineers who develop robots with an artistic commentary. Professor Ishiguro from Osaka, Japan is known for his Geminoid (a very realistic looking robot). He himself has plastic surgery every few years in order to remain as youthful as his robot. Ishiguro's "robots appear realistic; however, their movements are very mechanical" (Kusahara). By creating them, he is able to find a connection between robots and human beings. Ishiguro builds the robots to to look like people, since "Our brains are wired to relate to other humans—we’re optimized for human-human, not human-Asimo [robot], interaction" (Ishiguro). 

Precincts, QUT. “QUT - Robotronica - Hiroshi Ishiguro.” QUT Robotronica Graphic, www.robotronica.qut.edu.au/talks/hiroshi-ishiguro.php.

I hope that in the future Western countries will start focusing on the beneficial aspects of robots like Japan has, in lieu of depicting robots in an evil manner . For example, in the movie iRobot, robots are deemed to take over the world. Instead, the West should embrace the developments of advanced technology, as Japan did following World War II.

Works Cited: 

Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Stardom and Celebrity: A Reader (n.d.): 25-33. Web.

Brooks, Rodney. "Robots will invade our lives." Rodney Brooks: Robots will invade our lives | TED Talk | TED.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

Online, UC. “Robotics pt2.” YouTube, YouTube, 15 Apr. 2012, <www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=92&v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk>.

Online, UC. “Robotics MachikoKusahara 1.” YouTube. YouTube, 14 Apr. 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded>.

Murphy, Robin R, et al. Search and Rescue Robotics.
pdfs.semanticscholar.org/bfaa/3c62051674ef59f65b62fb408b99e88ed27d.pdf.

Guizzo, Erico. “Hiroshi Ishiguro: The Man Who Made a Copy of Himself.” IEEE Spectrum:

Technology, Engineering, and Science News, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Apr. 2010,

spectrum.ieee.org/robotics/humanoids/hiroshi-ishiguro-the-man-who-made-a-copy-of-himself.