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from the next-up:-dragon-riding-competitions dept.
Humanoid robots could soon allow us to stream our consciousness anywhere in the world, acting as surrogate bodies that enable people to ‘instantly be in multiple places at once.’
This is the goal of the Avatar XPrize, an ANA-sponsored concept for a $22 million contest just selected at the XPrize Visioneers 2016 Summit as ‘ready to launch.’
Backed by Japan’s largest airline, ANA, the Avatar XPrize will be a globally televised competition for the development of real avatars.
Teams will be given three years to create a system that can control an avatar in one basic task.
Then in 2022, finalists will move on to the Annual Avatar Games to compete across five categories: caretaker, public speaker, disaster relief, tennis, and musician.
These tasks will include pushing a wheelchair through a course, cooking an omelette, and even providing basic healthcare to a wounded person.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 12 2016, @08:10PM
> Backed by Japan’s largest airline, ANA, the Avatar XPrize ...
Why would an airline sponsor something that reduces the need for people to fly?
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday October 12 2016, @08:20PM
Maybe they have some reason to believe they need to diversify. Or that flight doesn't have a bright future. Like railroads didn't react to what become trucking using the interstate highway system. Who would think powerful railroads would be vulnerable.
The people who rely on government handouts and refuse to work should be kicked out of congress.
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Wednesday October 12 2016, @09:22PM
Because now people will take one flight while their avatar takes another. Double dip!
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday October 12 2016, @09:49PM
Not to be taken lightly in this day and age.
Will service robots be allowed on planes like "service dogs" (95% of which are glorified pets with zero training).
How long will it take nation states or terrorists to weaponize the avatar? About a week after general availability I'd guess.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 12 2016, @10:08PM
(95% of which are glorified pets with zero training)
It's refreshing to see bigoted ignorance directed somewhere I don't have a dog in the fight!
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 12 2016, @10:24PM
Will service robots be allowed on planes like "service dogs" (95% of which are glorified pets with zero training).
First, citation needed. Why do you think such a high percentage of service dogs have zero training? I'll buy that maybe 5% are emotional support dogs which have no training, but is there any basis to your statement of such an exceptionally high percentage are untrained.
Second, why would they not allow service robots on planes? Dogs are not allowed due to them being potentially unsanitary, panicking due to unfamiliar situations, and bothering other passengers. Robots have far fewer of those issues (and probably no more than any human). I can see them forcing them to be in a disabled or inert state to prevent EM interference/terrorism/etc., but I don't foresee an outright ban unless they are proven unsafe (e.g. contain giant battery packs within them, their form factor makes them block plane entry and exit, they are not disable-able, etc).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 12 2016, @11:04PM
First, citation needed. Why do you think such a high percentage of service dogs have zero training?
What? You think Frojack actually knows anything about the people he denigrates? You must be new here.
He is raw id, dedicated to pumping himself up by shitting on anyone he doesn't actually understand.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 12 2016, @10:26PM
They just want avatar baggage handlers operated by cheap oversea labor.
(Score: 2) by Bogsnoticus on Thursday October 13 2016, @05:29AM
Nope, perfectly reasonable if you follow the twisted logic.
The overgrown smurfs in Avatar had multi-purpose genitals which they mated with, used to control their mounts, and FSM knows what else they did with it off camera.
Japan loves its prehensile tentacle porn.
Next will come the announcement that ANA stewardess uniforms will be changed to schoolgirl uniforms.
I'm sure you can guess where this is going.
Genius by birth. Evil by choice.