• Tech

These Human Robots Will Haunt Your Nightmares

1 minute read
By Jack Linshi

Meet Otonaroid and Kodomoroid, two eerily lifelike robots who can read fluently, recite tongue twisters, blink, move and twitch their eyebrows (natch).

Japanese android expert Hiroshi Ishiguro unveiled the female cyborgs on Tuesday at the National Museum of Merging Science and Innovation. The two will be on display at the Museum for visitors to interact with.

Ishiguro’s robotics are the latest confirmation of the uncanny valley hypothesis, which posits that humans find discomfort when robotic and animated humans approach a natural human appearance.

With Softbank’s commercialization of robots, Ishiguro—who’s previously designed his own doppelgänger robots—hopes that robots will soon become a part of everyday life in Japan.

The new humanoid robots named "Otonaroid" and "Kodomoroid" are pictured during a press preview at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Technology in Tokyo on June 24, 2014.
The new humanoid robots named "Otonaroid" and "Kodomoroid" are pictured during a press preview at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Technology in Tokyo on June 24, 2014. Yoshikazu Tsuno—AFP/Getty Images
The new humanoid robots named "Otonaroid" and "Kodomoroid" are pictured during a press preview at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Technology in Tokyo on June 24, 2014.
The new humanoid robots named "Otonaroid" and "Kodomoroid" are pictured during a press preview at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Technology in Tokyo on June 24, 2014. Nicolas Datiche—SIPA
Japanese actor Ken Matsudaira clad in a robot suit, smiles with an android robot in his likeness called "Real Android Matsuken" at a press presentation in Tokyo on November 19, 2013.
Japanese actor Ken Matsudaira clad in a robot suit, smiles with an android robot in his likeness called "Real Android Matsuken" at a press presentation in Tokyo on November 19, 2013. Yoshikazu Tsuno—AFP/Getty Images
A woman watches a full-scale figure of a terminator robot "Cameron Phillipes" at a preview of the Terminator Exhibition in Tokyo on March 18, 2009.
A woman watches a full-scale figure of a terminator robot "Cameron Phillipes" at a preview of the Terminator Exhibition in Tokyo on March 18, 2009.Yoshikazu Tsuno—AFP/Getty Images
Inventor Le Trung celebrates Christmas with his robot Aiko on December 23, 2009 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
Inventor Le Trung celebrates Christmas with his robot Aiko on December 23, 2009 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.Barcroft Media
A model pokes the face of "Geminoid-F", a humanoid robot shaped to resemble the model at a press conference in Osaka, Japan on April 3, 2010.
A model pokes the face of "Geminoid-F", a humanoid robot shaped to resemble the model at a press conference in Osaka, Japan on April 3, 2010.Yoshikazu Tsuno—AFP/Getty Images
Telenoid is a teleoperated android robot with a minimal design, created as an attempt to embody the minimum physical requirements for humanlike communication during a press preview at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation Miraikan in Tokyo on June 24, 2014.
Telenoid is a teleoperated android robot with a minimal design, created as an attempt to embody the minimum physical requirements for humanlike communication during a press preview at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation Miraikan in Tokyo on June 24, 2014. Haruyoshi Yamaguchi—Corbis
A humanoid robot, HRP-4C, developed by Japan's Advanced Industrial Science and Technology shows off her skills during the Digital Contents Expo in Tokyo on October 22, 2009.
A humanoid robot, HRP-4C, developed by Japan's Advanced Industrial Science and Technology shows off her skills during the Digital Contents Expo in Tokyo on October 22, 2009. Yoshikazu Tsuno—AFP/Getty Images
A Nippon Dental University Hospital staff member demonstrates a humanoid robot dental therapy simulator named "Simroid" at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo on November 9, 2011.
A Nippon Dental University Hospital staff member demonstrates a humanoid robot dental therapy simulator named "Simroid" at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo on November 9, 2011.Yoshikazu Tsuno—AFP/Getty Images
Andoroid Repliee Q2 (R) reacts as graduate student Motoko Noma touches her face at an exhibition during Core Technology Symposium in Tokyo on October 31, 2006.
Andoroid Repliee Q2 (R) reacts as graduate student Motoko Noma touches her face at an exhibition during Core Technology Symposium in Tokyo on October 31, 2006. © Kiyoshi Ota / Reuters—REUTERS
Andoroid Repliee Q2 (L) faces graduate student Motoko Noma (R) at an exhibition during Core Technology Symposium in Tokyo on October 31, 2006.
Andoroid Repliee Q2 (L) faces graduate student Motoko Noma (R) at an exhibition during Core Technology Symposium in Tokyo on October 31, 2006. © Kiyoshi Ota / Reuters—REUTERS

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