tech
I Trained as a Dancer. Then I Saw the Robots Move.
They were impressive, but could they ever feel human?
TL;DR
- Humanoid robots are demonstrating increasingly complex and fluid movements, performing intricate routines that resemble dance.
- Companies are investing in robotic dance for various reasons, including potential applications in healthcare and domestic settings, and to reshape public perception of robots.
- Programming robots to move with human-like fluidity is challenging due to the complexity of human motion and the lack of a comprehensive notation system for movement.
- Researchers are attempting to create a 'periodic table' of movement units ('movemes') to teach robots expressive motions.
- The article distinguishes between a robot's pre-programmed performance and authentic human dance, which involves subjective experience, emotion, and embodiment.
- Human dance is described as a deeply personal and expressive act that draws upon an individual's entire lived experience and feelings.