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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]
(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Friday August 25 2017, @03:45AM (1 child)
Are you saying that the application of technology invalidates the honoring of the dead of the ritual? Best to ditch electric lights then. The coffin better be hand made from naturally grown trees. Hire some people to carry the coffin since transporting it via vehicles is verboten. Gotta weave the funeral clothes by hand too. Looms are not allowed either. Need to pick the cotton by hand, from wild plants.
Fuck technology, all we need is good old human spiritualism. Never mind the fact that the Japanese Shinto belief honors gods in all things, even man-made objects.
Join the SDF Public Access UNIX System today!
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday August 25 2017, @04:58AM
No, that's not what I'm saying, and I had already clarified my statement.