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Meet Palette the robotic super model
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By MICHIKO TOYAMA/Tokyo |
Posted Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002; 2.02 p.m. GMT
There were supermodels, pop stars, belly dancers — even a camel. But the real star at the August opening of Louis Vuitton's giant Tokyo store was Palette, a robot mannequin. Why should an automaton raise eyebrows in Japan, which produces over half the world's robots?
Because Palette brings us a step closer to C-3PO-style androids. Most robots do mechanical tasks like welding and riveting; some, like Sony's robot dog Aibo, are programmed to "obey" specific voice commands. But Palette responds to humans, using built-in cameras and sensors to detect and locate human presence, then changing its pose to show off its clothes to best effect.
"Palette becomes a work of art only through its interaction with people," says creator Tatsuya Matsui, president of Flower Robotics. Matsui's other creation, a girlish robot called Posy, recently performed with professional dancers. A dancing robot? Don't we already have J.Lo for that?
 BACK TO TOP |
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The Fashion Issue [Jun. 4, 2002]
TIME gets an exclusive peek inside the fashion house factories, and meets the induxtry's most influential players |
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S O C I E T Y
Islam In Europe
An inside look at how Europe's Muslims adapt to secular society — and vice-versa
T H E A T E R
Boney's Part
A stage extravaganza, a TV mini-series and a clutch of films put Napoleon in the spotlight again
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E U R O P E
Outta Here
A faltering economy and Schröder's policies have companies fleeing Germany
P O L I T I C S
Wages Of Spin Cherie Blair didn't know she was doing business with a con man, but it's Tony and New Labour who may pay the price |
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