Comments on: Where are all the Robots? http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 03:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375066 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375066 The information is a little misleading when you mix together developed and undeveloped countries just because they are in the same region. The information is a little misleading when you mix together developed and undeveloped countries just because they are in the same region.

]]> By: Pixel http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374561 Pixel Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374561 I initially read that as "robot dentistry" and wasn't sure if I should be intrigued or weirded out by the idea. I initially read that as “robot dentistry” and wasn’t sure if I should be intrigued or weirded out by the idea.

]]> By: eustace http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375585 eustace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375585 A little less noise, please. With Japan seemingly ripe for robot domination, I'm trying to implement Skynet, and the code is quite tricky to write... A little less noise, please. With Japan seemingly ripe for robot domination, I’m trying to implement Skynet, and the code is quite tricky to write…

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375589 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375589 what? come now: "kill all humans". All you need. what? come now: “kill all humans”. All you need.

]]> By: The Unusual Suspect http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374568 The Unusual Suspect Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374568 We taught them to hide. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?tp=&arnumber=1438021&isnumber=30961 We taught them to hide.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?tp=&arnumber=1438021&isnumber=30961

]]> By: Micah http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374578 Micah Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374578 With that density, Japan is a great potential expansion market for <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/2340/saturday-night-live-old-glory">Old Glory Insurance</a>. (<a href="http://www.robotcombat.com/video_oldglory_hi.html">alternate/bootleg link for non-US folks</a>) With that density, Japan is a great potential expansion market for Old Glory Insurance. (alternate/bootleg link for non-US folks)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375090 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375090 What qualifies as a robot in this survey? Is it any sort of automation, or is it only the traditional pick and place arm? What qualifies as a robot in this survey? Is it any sort of automation, or is it only the traditional pick and place arm?

]]> By: Rindan http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374585 Rindan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374585 I personally am not terribly surprised. Japan's demographics are different from the rest of the world. Japan has an extremely old population, low fertility rates, relatively high barriers to imports, and very extreme anti-immigration policies. The net result is that for their population size, they have very few workers, and less ability to import cheap goods. You can flip this in contrast to the US which is almost the opposite. The US is still a relatively young population (though nothing like a developing nation), has a very lax immigration policy (at least up until recently), and relatively low barriers to imports. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. The obvious advantage Japan has is that is spurs technological innovation. Generally, an aging population and a shrinking worker pool is a bad thing because you have more and more workers supporting non-workers. Japan is blunting some of the pain of this demographic reality by innovating with robots to boost the productivity of the remaining workers. Productivity boosts help some, and they lead to nifty robots, but they still pay the price. Goods in Japan are horrifically expensive by American standards. The US on the other hand takes a different tactic. Sure, they also use technology to boost productivity, and the US on the whole has some of the most productive workers in the world, but when was the last time you saw a native born American picking oranges? The US shifts a lot of the drudge work to legal and illegal immigrants. This has its advantages and disadvantages too. It can be a spiffy foot in to the US for an immigrant, and the US ends up exporting huge amounts of cash via immigrants sending remittances back home. It is nice for American consumers during the good times as it keeps goods cheap. The real danger of this system is that it promptly breaks when then economy breaks. You are cool with a Mexican doing your shit work when you have good work. You are much less cool with a Mexican doing shit work when you are desperate for any job and will do the shit work yourself for a higher wage... which companies wont pay because they have people that will take a lower wage and are also going through rough financial straights. It sucks for the immigrants too. They tend to be the first ones shed when things turn south. I personally am not terribly surprised. Japan’s demographics are different from the rest of the world. Japan has an extremely old population, low fertility rates, relatively high barriers to imports, and very extreme anti-immigration policies. The net result is that for their population size, they have very few workers, and less ability to import cheap goods.

You can flip this in contrast to the US which is almost the opposite. The US is still a relatively young population (though nothing like a developing nation), has a very lax immigration policy (at least up until recently), and relatively low barriers to imports.

Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. The obvious advantage Japan has is that is spurs technological innovation. Generally, an aging population and a shrinking worker pool is a bad thing because you have more and more workers supporting non-workers. Japan is blunting some of the pain of this demographic reality by innovating with robots to boost the productivity of the remaining workers. Productivity boosts help some, and they lead to nifty robots, but they still pay the price. Goods in Japan are horrifically expensive by American standards.

The US on the other hand takes a different tactic. Sure, they also use technology to boost productivity, and the US on the whole has some of the most productive workers in the world, but when was the last time you saw a native born American picking oranges? The US shifts a lot of the drudge work to legal and illegal immigrants. This has its advantages and disadvantages too. It can be a spiffy foot in to the US for an immigrant, and the US ends up exporting huge amounts of cash via immigrants sending remittances back home. It is nice for American consumers during the good times as it keeps goods cheap.

The real danger of this system is that it promptly breaks when then economy breaks. You are cool with a Mexican doing your shit work when you have good work. You are much less cool with a Mexican doing shit work when you are desperate for any job and will do the shit work yourself for a higher wage… which companies wont pay because they have people that will take a lower wage and are also going through rough financial straights. It sucks for the immigrants too. They tend to be the first ones shed when things turn south.

]]> By: yrogerg http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374589 yrogerg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374589 I find the robot deficit that the US suffers from distressing. There's no way this could end well. I find the robot deficit that the US suffers from distressing. There’s no way this could end well.

]]> By: omfpe http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375362 omfpe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375362 Is this because of our unions? They typically negotiate more workers-less robots, right? Is this because of our unions? They typically negotiate more workers-less robots, right?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374595 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374595 Spent all of our money on wars. Spent all of our money on wars.

]]> By: Kay the Complainer http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375365 Kay the Complainer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375365 Wasn't this already on BB sometime in November? Or did I just dream it? Wasn’t this already on BB sometime in November? Or did I just dream it?

]]> By: biffpow http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374598 biffpow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374598 Perhaps President Obama will include "vastly increased robot manufacturing" in his plan to create new American jobs. We'll then sell the robots to other countries (obviously) (and after we input our top secret program for world domination). Perhaps President Obama will include “vastly increased robot manufacturing” in his plan to create new American jobs. We’ll then sell the robots to other countries (obviously) (and after we input our top secret program for world domination).

]]> By: l'elk! http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374609 l'elk! Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374609 im still waiting for the real mecha's... im still waiting for the real mecha’s…

]]> By: Lauren O http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374896 Lauren O Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374896 My fellow Americans, we have work to do. Ask not what your country can do for you, but how many sweet-ass robots you can build for you country. My fellow Americans, we have work to do. Ask not what your country can do for you, but how many sweet-ass robots you can build for you country.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374642 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374642 Maybe it is because the robots like it better in Japan, as in general they are treated better there. Maybe it is because the robots like it better in Japan, as in general they are treated better there.

]]> By: eustace http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375666 eustace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375666 yeah, if only milsatcom command and control code was that easy... and it's all in ada dammit... total robot domination of nippon Real Soon Now... yeah, if only milsatcom command and control code was that easy…
and it’s all in ada dammit…
total robot domination of nippon Real Soon Now…

]]> By: phosphorious http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375415 phosphorious Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375415 We've been out-robotted by the <i>belgians</i>!?! We’ve been out-robotted by the belgians!?!

]]> By: se7a7n7 http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374653 se7a7n7 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374653 If robots take over, we just move to Africa. If robots take over, we just move to Africa.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374656 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374656 Is a washing machine not a robot? Any moving hardware controlled by programable software is a robot. Is a washing machine not a robot? Any moving hardware controlled by programable software is a robot.

]]> By: forgeweld http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374662 forgeweld Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374662 I think this really illustrates the U.S.'s abandonment of manufacturing, and why it will be hard to recover this economy unless there is more investment in that area. Everyone standing in a circle serving hamburgers to each other just doesn't generate much real wealth. I think this really illustrates the U.S.’s abandonment of manufacturing, and why it will be hard to recover this economy unless there is more investment in that area. Everyone standing in a circle serving hamburgers to each other just doesn’t generate much real wealth.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375434 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375434 (fat, greasy Belgian bastards!) (fat, greasy Belgian bastards!)

]]> By: Boba Fett Diop http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374672 Boba Fett Diop Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374672 The Japanese are just further ahead of us in most things: http://www.theonion.com/content/news/earthquake_sets_japan_back_to_2147 (I also originally thought it said "robot dentistry." Then I thought "who on earth would track that?") The Japanese are just further ahead of us in most things:

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/earthquake_sets_japan_back_to_2147

(I also originally thought it said “robot dentistry.” Then I thought “who on earth would track that?”)

]]> By: Evil Jim http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375187 Evil Jim Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375187 I am not surprised at all that Japan has the densest population of robots in the world. Welcome, robot overlords! I am not surprised at all that Japan has the densest population of robots in the world. Welcome, robot overlords!

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375195 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375195 http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=815 http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=815

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375204 bcsizemo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375204 I really want to see the density broken down by category of robot (or type or job function), ie. sexbot... Cause Japan is going to be #1, 2 and 3 on that one... I really want to see the density broken down by category of robot (or type or job function), ie. sexbot… Cause Japan is going to be #1, 2 and 3 on that one…

]]> By: jordan http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-375468 jordan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-375468 Would be more useful if the graph showed us the population density of robots in disguise. I hate when my VW Bug turns out to be an alien automaton. Would be more useful if the graph showed us the population density of robots in disguise. I hate when my VW Bug turns out to be an alien automaton.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374702 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374702 Robot dentistry? Why would anyone give a robot teeth? Oh, wait...you mean robots which replace dentists? Robot dentistry?
Why would anyone give a robot teeth? Oh, wait…you mean robots which replace dentists?

]]> By: nonplus http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374969 nonplus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374969 Clearly the Japanese care more about protection from the <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7E0ot9iJm_k&ei=FOJnSauNMpicNfmMtZ4H&usg=AFQjCNEUFwX_yO0LIosXyfU7du1EHXvoPw&sig2=LU2yU514duMKNPNTKWtndw" rel="nofollow">Terrible Secrets of Space</a>! Clearly the Japanese care more about protection from the Terrible Secrets of Space!

]]> By: Ryan64 http://boingboing.net/2009/01/09/where-are-all-the-ro.html#comment-374721 Ryan64 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-374721 <a href="http://www.worldrobotics.org/downloads/2008_executive_summary.pdf" rel="nofollow">Here</a> is an executive summary of IFR's World Robotics report. Note also that personal robotics will reach $15 billion in sales by 2015, eclipsing the industrial market. Here is an executive summary of IFR’s World Robotics report. Note also that personal robotics will reach $15 billion in sales by 2015, eclipsing the industrial market.

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