How sexist is this?

[TahitiNut]

The HRP-4C robot was not programmed to please families like Asimo. Nor will she save/destroy humanity like a Terminator. Rather, she's taking the fashion world by storm as Tokyo's next top model.

Even though the HRP-4C packs 42 motors, at just over 5 feet tall and 95 pounds in weight, she's still thin enough to guilt teenage girls everywhere into puking up their lunches. And the manga-inspired face, with a tiny nose and large eyes, should keep the plastic surgery market afloat in even the most dire economic climate.

Unlike modern models, however, the HRP-4C walks down the runway with constantly bent knees and it fully capable of smiling.

In case you are looking for an HRP-4C of your own, a similar model will cost you $3 million. Otherwise, you can check her out again during the Tokyo fashion show on March 23rd.

http://i.gizmodo.com/5170498/the-hrp+4c-model-robot-is-programmed-to-workit

TSUKUBA, Japan (AFP) — Japanese researchers on Monday showed off a robot that will soon strut her stuff down a Tokyo catwalk.

The girlie-faced humanoid with slightly oversized eyes, a tiny nose and a shoulder length hair-do boasts 42 motion motors programmed to mimic the movements of flesh-and-blood fashion models.

"Hello everybody, I am cybernetic human HRP-4C," said the futuristic fashionista, opening her media premiere at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology outside Tokyo.

The fashion-bot is 158 centimetres (five foot two inches) tall, the average height of Japanese women aged 19 to 29, but weighs in at a waif-like 43 kilograms (95 pounds) -- including batteries.

She has a manga-inspired human face but a silver metallic body.

"If we had made the robot too similar to a real human, it would have been uncanny," said one of the inventors, humanoid research leader Shuji Kajita.

"We have deliberately leaned toward an anime style."

The institute said the robot "has been developed mainly for use in the entertainment industry" but is not for sale at the moment.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hBPgw0VQbyc6TnS-Bdy23twH1iQg

I have to wonder if it walks 15 paces behind its owner.

[RT Atlanta]

1. why not C3PO?

the technology is pretty amazing, but I too question the choice of styling.

[TahitiNut]

3. Revenge of the Nerds?

:rofl:

[TahitiNut]

2. "It was THIS big!"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1162402/A-cyber-sensation-Worlds-robotic-model-star-fashion-show.html


:hide:

[Beetwasher]

11. She's Got Man Hands, Baby!

n/t

[TahitiNut]

13. Well, 8 motors in the face and 30 motors in the body - none in the hands.

:shrug: Priorities, priorities. :rofl:

[Marr]

67. Oh man, the hands are what really make it creepy.

Stick a realistic head on a robot body and I think, "cool- I want a robot body". Put realistic HANDS on a robot body and I think, "OH MY GOD, that robot chopped off someone's hands and stole them!"

[notadmblnd]

72. The hands are huge compared to the face and body

One thing we can know for certain though.. It won't be long and the need for auditions for "America's Next Top Model" will be eliminated. I also wonder why the resting shape of her mouth is like that? However, I tend to have a dirty mind.:shrug:

[Warpy]

4. Few Asian women have racks like that

unless they're nursing babies.

I can see an interactive "Real Doll" in the future.

It's OK, really, because men who want bed partners who are mindless and always "ready" should be taken off the dating market.

[TahitiNut]

7. "The developers said the big challenge in creating the robot was making the small 'feminine' parts."

:rofl:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1162402/A-cyber-sensation-Worlds-robotic-model-star-fashion-show.html

[anigbrowl]

69. I beg to differ

Asian women tend to be more petite than the European or African averages, but the photos here look about average to my experienced eye.

[Buzz Clik]

5. Why is this sexist?

In answer to the question posed in the title of the OP, I rank this a 0 on the sexist scale, where 1 is Gloria Steinem and 10 is Rush Limbaugh.

[Taverner]

6. Funny, I didn't know that repression of robots was sexist

Some people just look for things to be angry about I swear

[geomon666]

55. Don't expect any mercy during the Great Robot Wars. n/t

[H2O Man]

8. "15 paces"

A walking, talking "love doll." Just what society needs.

[TahitiNut]

9. Exhibit D

While that perv in the back is busy shooting HRP-4C's firm buttocks shaped from a glossy Stormtrooper alloy, the rest of us can marvel at the fact that Japan has produced a walking, talking fashion robot. Standing at just over 5-feet tall and 95-pounds, HRP-4C, developed by Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, will make its catwalk debut next week at the Tokyo fashion show. The she-bot features 30 motors spread throughout its body with an additional eight motors in its face for expressing general boredom and disgust with the help. Its main purpose is entertainment and to attract crowds much like its fleshy counterparts -- so don't expect home cooked meals and laundry service should you take the $200,000 robot home. Unfortunately, HRP-4C didn't function as planned today. Reports say that the robot, "kept looking surprised, opening its mouth and eyes in a stunned expression, when the demonstrator had asked it to smile or look angry." Hmm, sounds like a fully functional model-slash-actress to us.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/16/japans-hrp-4c-fashion-model-robot-unveiled-already-harassed/

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

10. Not Sexist At All. In Fact, Odd As It Is, It's Still Pretty Friggin Cool!

But as a side note, there obviously will never be a shortage of things for incessant complainers to complain about...

[TahitiNut]

12. Thanks, Rush. I knew I could count on you.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[8 track mind]

15. in all reality however,

Rush has probably plunked down the money for one. It's the only "female" that could put up with the fat gasbag. I give the Rush/Robot relationship six months. The robot will want a divorce.

[Goblinmonger]

63. Given the rumors

he would probably hold out for the young, south-American boy model.

[8 track mind]

68. eeeeeewwwwww

:rofl:
:rofl:
:rofl:
:rofl:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

16. Grow Up.

[Goblinmonger]

64. This may shock you

but I'm with you on this one.

[gratuitous]

14. The Herpes 4C?

Who's C?

Sexist? I dunno. If some guy gets his jollies using and abusing a robot, does that spare a flesh-and-blood woman the humiliation? Would that be bad? Would it cause the guy to further objectify women? Can that be controlled? Should it be controlled? Should that impulse at least be discouraged? Or if it's an irreducible part of some nitwits' personality make-up, is it better to give it an outlet that won't punish and degrade another human being?

[alfredo]

17. If you can form an emotional bond with a machine, you will take better

care of it. If they made it look like a fat hairy man, would you want that around? Auto makers know this, so does Steve Jobs.

[SidDithers]

18. Finally, robotic beings rule the world...

The Humans are dead
The Humans are dead
We used poisonous gases
and we poisoned their asses



Sid

[TreasonousBastard]

19. Sexist? Is that a joke I missed?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

20. Probably not as sexist as your racist comment.

[TahitiNut]

21. You seem to have reading comprehension problems.

:shrug: If you see a racist post, alert the mods. If you see a sexist post, alert the mods.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

22. "I have to wonder if it walks 15 paces behind its owner."

I read you loud and clear, bub.

[TahitiNut]

24. Are you really that abysmally ignorant of the historically deep-seated sexism in Japanese culture?

Are you totally clueless that, until relatively recently (like the 1980s), job openings in Japanese colleges and universities openly and clearly advertised a tow-tier salary structure with women offered 25% less for the EXACT same job opening?

I could go on ... but cluelessness seems to go hand-in-hand with knee-jerk assholery.

The Japanese woman to whom I was engaged(-to-be-engaged) for two years would be amazed to hear I'm a racist. Yuko would laugh, however, having a great sense of humor.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

25. Are you really that abysmally ignorant of the deep-seated racism in that stereotype?

[TahitiNut]

27. I see. Your ignorance and condescending perspective prevented you from detecting the sarcasm.

First off, the traditional Japanese custom was for the wife to walk three paces behind her husband, not fifteen. Thus there is no "stereotype' in my comment since it was an extreme exaggeration in reference to a ROBOT ... not a "wife" and only made to resemble a female. Thus, the question was posed regarding sexism ... and punctuated by a hyperbolic and facetious allusion. (Too bad you can't comprehend that.)

Your projection of 'racism' in that comment is ludicrous.

[Terran]

28. The Japanese aren't a "race"

At worst, the OP's attitude is 'culturalist', but he's certainly speaking from fact. Japan may have liberalized some when it comes to women, but not all that much.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. "them japanese is a bunch of sexists" is a racist comment.

[Terran]

32. Funny, I didn't see that quotation in the OP.

And the Japanese are not a race. Does that not compute for you or something? Look up "racism" in a dictionary, that will help.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

33. Look harder.

[Terran]

38. My point is, using quotes when no such sentence was written

is irresponsible of you. So, did you get the definition of "racism" worked out yet?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

39. I'm paraphrasing the comment.

And you well know it's accurate.

[Terran]

44. Just go look up racism

before you try to discuss it any further. Honestly, you're just making yourself look like a fool.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

46. I'm familiar with what racism is.

And your arguments are so silly I figured they didn't need a rebuttal, but...

If you'd like to explain how this isn't racist, I'd love to hear it:

[Terran]

49. It's bigotry

By definition, it's not racism.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

50. Riiiiight.

And how do you define race?

You realize you're just splitting hairs, right? But if you really want to go down this path...

[Terran]

51. The Japanese are a nationality

and your image is WWII propaganda designed to make a combatant enemy look bad in the eyes of Americans. You can't be "racist" toward a nationality. That's like saying you're racist toward Kenyans but not Nigerians. It's illogical.

Just give up. You're not willing to say the damned robot is sexist--that's fine, I don't give a crap what you think. But saying the OP is racist because of his post is just fucking stupid and you know it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

57. There also an ethnicity.

And you seem to be able to understand the concept, at least when it comes to caucasians.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5265354#5265399

"your image is WWII propaganda designed to make a combatant enemy look bad in the eyes of Americans. "

And the OP's comment is designed to make Japanese people look bad in the eyes of Americans.

Frankly, I see little difference.

"But saying the OP is racist because of his post is just fucking stupid and you know it."

What's stupid is saying the cartoon isn't racist. I mean I realized you painted yourself into a corner, but c'mon.

[TahitiNut]

47. "you're just making yourself look like a fool."

I'd say that's beginning to appear to be an aspiration. :evilgrin:

[BuyingThyme]

23. Sexist in terms of being a servant?

I don't know about that.

But she looks pretty cool. Can she cook?

[TahitiNut]

35. "she"?? You mean "it"??

:evilgrin:

Interesting, huh?

[BuyingThyme]

37. You're just trying to dehumanize her.

[TahitiNut]

40. !

:rofl: :rofl:

[TheMightyFavog]

26. The anime geek in me finds this intersesting.

I would also ask my fellow anime geeks here on DU to confirm my sanity, as to me the face reminds me of Osaka from Azumanga Daioh.

[Blue_Tires]

48. wow...that's a first in history -- flat-chested anime girl??

[Threedifferentones]

62. Many, many types of movies are animated in Japan

And not all of them are aimed at 15 year old boys. For really famous examples, check out any of Studio Ghibli's movies. All of them are beautifully animated. Some are serious, some are fantastic, some are charming, some are heartbreaking. But, none of them feature scantily clad women with Barbie like figures, and none of them boil to trashy super-hero flicks.

Honestly, they blow Disney out of the fucking water, in terms of animation and story, IMO.

[Terran]

29. The article was sure sexist.

Joking about bulimia in teenage girls, that's really messed up. The robot? Well, the male technonerds who designed it are certainly sexist. Not sure if an inanimate object can be. Now, if the same men would design a 'male' robot modeled after Japanese gay porn comics (i.e., big/burly/hairy)...

[TahitiNut]

34. Most of the articles I read had a similar tone ... along with the intended use of such robots ...

... to care for the elderly and infirm. I'm somewhat non-plussed by the choice of making the robot to have ANY geneder, let alone female ... and then the association with menial, personal service tasks. There was no prospective use in dirty, dangerous menail tasks not having an intrapersonal element, however. I personally find it disturbing that personal care (what I'd call 'humane') finds itself at the top of any list of tasks to be relegated to robots. The choice of 'genderization' merely compounds my puzzlement and disturbance.

[Terran]

36. Seems like this has been explored in sci-fi a lot...

the genderization/persoanlization of robots. Generally it's been thought that robots (assuming some intelligence and ability to interact) should be quasi-human but genderless because it make it easier for humans to relate to them (and not be afraid of them). If they seem too human, it freaks people out. This just seems like logic to me.

I guess such a device could be of use to someone who was bed-ridden or severely disabled, but really, I doubt robotics have progressed to the point where they're good enough to perform personal care for a human.

[Smith_3]

31. Umm, not sexist at all?

:shrug:

[anigbrowl]

70. Agreed.

[mudesi]

41. So They Finally Make A Female Robot, And You Call It Sexist?

You should be happy that female robots are finally accepted into the mainstream!

[TahitiNut]

42. !

:rofl: Gawd, yes. Equal opportunity forever!

:rofl:

[denem]

43. *** now THIS is sexist ***

An eye on a stalk, come on now!

[PVnRT]

45. Fashion designers view models as walking clothes hangers anyway

Might as well take the final step.

[TahitiNut]

53. The key word (and concept) is 'objectification,' imho.

No matter which ___ism we're dealing with, it's based in dealing with human beings as objects and human attributes as marketable commodities. Kant's Categorical Imperative is ALL ABOUT this.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

58. So, your main objection...

is that they anthropomorphized a robot?

[TahitiNut]

59. You again don't demonstrate rudimentary reading comprehension skills.

Why not go waste someone else's time? :shrug:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

61. Is that a yes or a no?

[PVnRT]

65. I would agree

Models are, in essence, objects used to show the designers' clothes off. Objectification in its purest form; at least by objectifying a woman as a sex object, you are tacitly admitting that they are a human being. Models, to the fashion industry, don't even rank that high.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

52. I don't think it's any more sexist than the fashion industry already is.

However, I am freaked out by the thing and have a Luddite urge to take a bat to it lest it become our overlord.

[Dukkha]

54. the Koreans did it better

their android is eerily lifelike

but it looks like we're still a way off before Major Kusanagi reports for duty to Section 9.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

56. I'm just over 5' tall and 95lbs

I'm eating two slices of pizza for lunch. It's not an unhealthy weight for someone of that height with small bones.

[edbermac]

60. "I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly."

"Take a stress pill and think things over."

[Withywindle]

66. Frakkin' toasters!

I guess now we know where the Cylon revolution started. Thanks, Japan. Thanks a whole lot.

[guitar man]

71. It depends

Does that stormtrooper outfit come off and is it anatomically correct underneath? :P