Honda android to conduct symphony orchestra
Foo Bah-Bah-Bah-Baaah!
Detroit Symphony Orchestra conductor Thomas Wilkins could be getting worried, because the US classical music ensemble has orchestrated plans to replace him - temporarily at least - with a Honda robot.
Next month, the car manufacturer’s Asimo - which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, apparently - will conduct the DSO for a special performance, which also includes a performance by the famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
The event’s designed to show off Asimo's “unique capabilities” - according to Honda - for keeping the orchestra in time and… er… waving a white stick. The robot's repertoire isn't yet known.
Asimo is to conduct an orchestra, if the batteries hold out
But if the orchestra finds the droid isn't up to the task, they have a quick go themselves, courtesy of a promotional Wii videogame that lets users conduct an orchestra with the console’s Remote.
If the orchestra needs a hand getting home after the performance then Honda could also lend each member one of the new walking machines it has just invented. Hopefully, Asimo won’t need one too - unless its batteries match the duration of the average Bruckner symphony.
The performance takes place on 13 May in the US and more information about it is available here.
COMMENTS
I wish...
...Honda would hurry up and get these on the market. I want to have one follow me around and beat up people who annoy me - slow walkers, chavs, loud children and so on. Then I can just blame the robot "got a mind of his own guv".
Not conducting FFS, what use is that to anyone?
Player Piano
I believe (and this is completely hunch based) that a human conductor does more than just wave his/her hands (and other body parts) based on the notes.
This is just another one of those things... Like when Deep Blue won Kasparov, all the retards thought that AI is here, finally.
Can-can bye robots
Bye very sexy and very stripped (original fashion) girl robots. Comming soon, perhaps but I wont be there.
Then again perhaps all that fuss infront of the orchestra, arse towards paying customers, has been unnecessary all these years.
Sorry that was unnecessary, but so was this story on on, where the hell am I anyway.
Re: Can-can robots
Sorry, lost i dreams, lost my point, would that be a harware or a software patent.
