Japanese Scientist Builds Robots That Look Eerily Human

Japanese Scientist Builds Robots That Look Eerily Human

1. What are androids?

Androids are robots with human apperance 

2. Name the three robots Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro has created for the 'Android: What is Human' exhibition? What are their respective roles?

The team of robots being exhibited include two beautiful females - the adult Otonaroid (Otano means adult in Japanese) and the juvenile Kodomoroid (Kodomo means child in Japanese) as well as a tiny cuddly infant-like robot called Telenoid. All three have a specific purpose. The teleoperated Otonaroid will act as the museum's robot science communicator for the duration of the exhibition. Her duties include having one-on-one conversations with visitors, which Ishighuro believes will help people become more comfortable around androids. Kodomoroid who is being touted as the world's first robo newscaster can skill fully recite the latest news gathered from around the world via an internet feed. The young girl can also speak several languages in a variety of tones ranging from a girly squeal to a deep male voice. As for Telenoid? built to behave like a minimalist human, he resembles a cuddly baby that visitors can pick up for a quick hug and even, have a short conversation with.

3. Why are androids more difficult to build then normal robots?

As you can imagine, building these robots is not for the faint of heart. Android researchers begin by making a complete plaster cast of a human model, right down to the teeth. They then spend hundreds of hours molding and painting the features so that the robot closely resembles the human it is being modeled after. That, is the easy part! Then starts the arduous process of installing the complex machinery and countless hours of programming so that the androids not only replicate human gestures and facial expressions, but also, think like them. It is no wonder that most scientists gravitate towards building 'easier' industrial robots.

Critical Thinking Challenge:

Some people believe android robots are cool. Others think they are a little creepy. What side are you on? Why? 

I am a fence sitter because it is cool that they have made these robots that can do stuff but it is also creepy because their faces are kinda off putting. 

British Competition Honors Naughty Pets

British Competition Honors Naughty Pets

1. Why did Direct Blinds ask people to post pet pictures on their Facebook page?

The contest, organised by Direct Blinds an online supplier of custom window coverings, asked owners to upload photos of their pets caught performing their naughtiest deeds, on the company's Facebook page.

2. What title did Yodie win? What did he do to deserve it?

Though they were all shockingly mischievous, it was Yodie, a German Shepherd and Keeshond Cross, that captured the judges' attention. Originally from Romania,Yodie was rescued by a British charity from where he was adopted by 25-year-old Laura Vitty. The Newcastle resident says that over the years, Yodie has destroyed many items including, his own dog bed.

However, it is cushions that the pooch seems to hate the most. One of his biggest fights with them came during a two-week period when Yodie was unwell and ordered by the vet to stay at home. Vitty believes that he was so bored that he decided to attack every cushion he could put his paws on and distribute the shreds all over the house. While the mess took weeks to clean up, it is also the reason the naughty dog earned himself the title of Britain's Naughtiest Pet and his owner, £500 Pounds Sterling and some free custom blinds.

3. What are the 2nd and 3rd place winners known to do frequently?
In second place was another dog called Harry, whose favourite hobby is to shred newspapers and magazines. The funniest and most talented however was Stoops, a black cat who came in third place - She apparently loves to open the fridge and hop in to lick the tops of the cold milk bottles.

Critical Thinking Challenge:

What is the naughtiest thing that you have seen or heard a pet do?

The naughtiest thing I have seen is my dog do she had found one of my dad's favourite rugby balls, ripped a massive hole in it and got her head stuck in the hole and could not get her head out. She was wondering around the house with this rugby ball stuck to her head.

Joey Chestnut Wins Hot Dog Eating Contest for Eighth Consecutive Year!

Joey Chestnut Wins Hot Dog Eating Contest for Eighth Consecutive Year!

1. Who was responsible for making Nathan's hot dog contest famous? How many hot dogs did he eat?

Japan's Takeru Kobayashi devoured 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes, that it gained international fame. Though Kobayashi, who won the event for six consecutive years until he was dethroned by California rookie Joey Chestnut in 2007, is long gone

2. How many years has Joey Chestnut won the contest prior to this year? What significant event occurred before the contest began?
Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, who has dominated this competition for the last seven years. The 6-foot tall competitive eater who is currently ranked first in the world by the International Federation of Competitive Eating, demolished 61 franks in the allotted ten minutes. While that was good enough to take home the official mustard-yellow winner's belt and total prize purse of $40,000 USD, it fell short of the 69 hot dogs and buns the 30-year-old had managed to devour in 2013.
Joey, who had hoped to surpass his previous record, later admitted that he had been unable to get into his normal (eating) rhythm! Though he could not pinpoint the cause we have a feeling that it may have had something to do with the fact that his longtime girlfriend and competitive eater, Nesile Ricasa, had agreed to marry him on national television, just minutes before the competition.

3. What happened in the women's contest?
In the women's contest three-time defending women's champion Sonya 'Black Widow' Thomas did not fareas well. She was defeated by Miki Sudo from Las Vegas, who inhaled 34 frankfurters, far outpacing Sonya's 27 3/4!

Critical Thinking Challenge:
What in your opinion makes food eating contests like these so popular (a) with contestants (b) with viewers?

I think that it is because they want to see if they can beat the scores of other contestants and to get a chance to be on T.V. 

I think that it is because of people are amazed by the amount people can eat and they want to know if they can eat more or if they eat less than their previous scores. 

Bali Trip

1. What are these things that are all over the place in Bali.

A. They are called Canang Sari. They were offerings to the gods. Every day the Balinese either created or bought these “offerings” and laid them out for their gods. Especially in front of their temples. At a basic level the idea is similar to tithing – to give some of the blessings one receives back.

2. Find out about school in Bali

A. There are many school around Bali but this school is different. It is called Bali international School (BIS for short) BIS has a rich and proud history, dating back to 1985. Since then the school has grown quickly and now has top facilities and approximately 300 pupils from Pre-School through to Grade 12.

3. What are the fish called that make your skin soft.

A. The fish are called Garra Rufa but typically known as doctor fish. They were first used in Turkey and have become popular in some Asian countries.

4. What is batik?

A. Batik is a method (originally used in Java) of producing coloured designs on textiles by dyeing them, having first applied wax to the parts to be left undyed. Batik is a fabric dyeing method using wax to create patterns and designs.

This method makes use of a resist technique; applying areas of cloth with wax (a dye-resistant substance) to prevent them from absorbing colours when the cloth is dipped into dye.

Not only as a dye-resistant substance, the wax applied is also used to control colours from spreading out from a particular area to create motif when the dye is painted.

5. Who is this temple dedicated to?

A. This temple is called Saraswati Temple it in Ubud and it is dedicated to honor the Hindu Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning, literature and art. This temple is very beautiful and artistic, so many tourists who come to see its charm, but for purposes of worship.