Slashdot Log In
Robot Identifies Human Flesh As Bacon
Posted by
Zonk
on Thu Nov 09, 2006 07:53 PM
from the tastes-like-chicken-or-so-i've-heard dept.
from the tastes-like-chicken-or-so-i've-heard dept.
Jearil writes "Wired's 'Table of Malcontents' blog links to an article about a wine-tasting robot that thinks humans taste like bacon. The Japanese robot is intended to act as a personal sommelier, suggesting wines, cheeses, and hors d'oeuvres based on its owners personal tastes. It also apparently thinks humans would be tasty as part of a sandwich." From the article: "Let the robot holocaust commence: robots think we taste like bacon ... Upon being given a sample, he will speak up in a childlike voice and identify what he has just been fed. The idea is that wineries can tell if a wine is authentic without even opening the bottle, amongst other more obscure uses ... like 'tell me what this strange grayish lump at the back of my freezer is/was.' But when some smart aleck reporter placed his hand in the robot's omnivorous clanking jaw, he was identified as bacon. A cameraman then tried and was identified as prosciutto." This is most distressing.
Related Stories
[+]
Scientists Try To Make Robots More Human 88 comments
mikesd81 writes "The Associated Press has an article about a robot named George that plays hide-and-seek. Impressively, the robot can actually also find a place to hide, and then hunt for its human playmate. Scientists are calling this 'a new level of human interaction'. The machine must take cues from people and behave accordingly. Researchers aim to imply humanity in robotics by creating technology that can connect with humans in a more 'thoughtful' way. The places to first see this technology are in the most human-oriented fields — those that require special care in dealing with the elderly, young and disabled." From the article: "'Robots in the human environment, to me that's the final frontier,' said Cynthia Breazeal, robotic life group director at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 'The human environment is as complex as it gets; it pushes the envelope.' Robotics is moving from software and gears operating remotely - Mars, the bottom of the ocean or assembly lines - to finally working with, beside and even on people. 'Robots have to understand people as people,' Breazeal said. 'Right now, the average robot understands people like a chair: It's something to go around.'"
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
yummy (Score:5, Funny)
The robot is right (Score:5, Funny)
Soo... (Score:5, Funny)
Distressing? (Score:5, Funny)
No it's not. It's brilliant. The only thing putting me off cannabalism was a concern I might not like the taste. Best news ever!
I thought (Score:5, Funny)
The robot got it right. (Score:5, Interesting)
If there are no Polynesian cannibals in your area, ask a soldier or fireman what burning human flesh smells like.
We smell like pork when we're well-done. The robot got it absolutely right. And I, for one, would like to remind the robot that I'm absolutely delicious when served with some fava beans and a nice chianti.
Forget the Skynet funding bill ... (Score:5, Funny)
Okay.. (Score:5, Insightful)
I used to theorize that human flesh probably contains more of the same nutrients we need than any other food out there, so I had guessed in the past that in theory it would be pretty tasty.
One thing is certain... (Score:5, Funny)
That poor man. (Score:5, Funny)
Long Pig (Score:5, Informative)
Where are the Soylent Green Jokes?
Fine, because robots dislike bacon. (Score:5, Funny)
Good wine (Score:5, Funny)
Phew.
Re:Distressing? (Score:5, Informative)
BACON!@!!!@!!! (Score:5, Funny)
No pig for me (Score:5, Interesting)
obligatory animal farm quote (Score:5, Interesting)
Then Hannibal was wrong (Score:5, Funny)
Aztecs Can Confirm! (Score:5, Interesting)
The robot probably isn't far off...
The Aztecs had a long legacy of cannibalism as part of their religious ceremonies. It was considered (I assume by those not experiencing it) an honor to be killed and eaten as a token to their god(s).
After the Spanish came and forcefully converted the native American survivors to Roman Catholocism, the Aztecs adopted the stigma attached to cannibalism. However, they couldn't get enough of that porcine protein brought over from Europe. When asked about their focused consumption of pigs, the former people eaters replied with a simple answer: pigs taste like you and me.
Humans and Swine Not Dissimilar (Score:5, Insightful)
Humans and pigs are actually fairly close anatomically, which is why high school students dissect pig fetuses every year and why pigs are a promising species in the field of Xenotransplantation [wikipedia.org]. And it's really not distressing at all, after you get over the ick factor. We're not made of magical fairy dust
Don't take it lying down! (Score:5, Funny)
smells like it (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:I thought (Score:5, Funny)
The mailman, probably...
Thank you, I'll be here all this week!
The obvious way to save ourselves: (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Don't take it lying down! (Score:5, Funny)
Irony.