A book-reading robot named Ninomiya-kun is able to read materials placed on a special book stand.
(Book-reading robot)
The robot, developed jointly with the Kitakyushu National College of Technology and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, uses its camera eyes to pick up the written characters. Character recognition software translates the text into spoken words.
Although my children have passed beyond the age at which they enjoyed having me read to them, I still enjoy reading to children, and look forward to reading to my grandchildren. Any robots that try to take my 'job' away from me had better read Philip K. Dick's 1955 short story Nanny and prepare for battle accordingly.
Tactile Skin Supplier Map
'What strange sensitivity! What an amazing development of science was manifested in every move and act and word of this Robot!' - Ray Cummings, 1931.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
Prairie Madness - And Space Sickness
'Space-sickness is one of the most unpleasant sensations that a human being can experience. Not all are subject to it...'
'Old People Began to Cross The Continent In Their Own Cars'
'It was a relief to enter one of the comfortable autos, whisper a direction down the tube, and just know that you would be taken to your destination in the quickest, safest, and cheapest manner.'
Starfall Manufacturing Drugs In Space
'The vast spinning sphere of Factory in the Sky loomed above and ahead of us, gleaming white against the unfathomable jet depths of surrounding space.'
The Solar Oberth Slingshot
'And if it doesn’t work,' inquired Lazarus, 'what does that make us? Sunspots?'
'If Anyone Is Watching Earth...'
'Our study of your race has convinced us that you are not fitted to leave your planet in the present state of your civilization.'