Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by Fnord666 on Thursday August 24 2017, @10:56PM   Printer-friendly
from the what-happens-if-you-don't-welcome-your-new-robotic-overlords dept.

Atlas Obscura has an article on a robot programmed to perform Buddhist funeral rites.

What's the hottest new trend in robotics? It might be religion. Hot on the heels of Germany's Protestant-inspired automated blessing machine, BlessU-2, a Japanese company has unveiled a smiling automaton programmed to conduct Buddhist funerals.

Unveiled during the annual Life Ending Industry Expo in Tokyo, a funeral industry trade show, the little robot was presented by Nissei Eco Co. as an inexpensive alternative to hiring a flesh-and-blood monk. According to Reuters, the robot, a reprogrammed version of SoftBank Robotics' "Pepper" model of interactive humanoid automaton, can chant Buddhist sutras and beat a little drum to honor the dead. It can even livestream the service if needed.

Also at Reuters and The Guardian.

Youtube has a clip with the robot in action, which may give you nightmares. The robot in question is a reprogrammed SoftBank Robotics Pepper model. In related news it turns out Japan has a Life Ending Industry EXPO.

Once again Philip K Dick is proven right.

[Additional video clip by the New York Post. - Ed]


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 3, Informative) by looorg on Friday August 25 2017, @01:11AM

    by looorg (578) on Friday August 25 2017, @01:11AM (#558685)

    Hell is indeed other robots ... Crocodylus pontifex approves of this message.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +1  
       Informative=1, Total=1
    Extra 'Informative' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   3