geekosystem

Asimo, everyone's favorite humanoid robot from Honda, has learned a few new tricks that researchers hope will make interacting with robots a little bit easier. The first is a new system that adds gesticulations to pre-programmed speech on the fly. Engineers working with Asimo say that since the robot lacks a mouth, the only way Asimo can interact with people is through speech and body movements. Interestingly, the user can define how expressive the robot should be while speaking, so Asimo can move with the grace and tenacity of a master orator or with more subdued motions. Second, and perhaps more significantly, Asimo can now mimic the motions of a human through a Kinect motion controller. This isn't mere copying, though; the movements are tightly integrated to Asimo's existing systems, allowing the robot to adjust his feet to keep him upright while following human movement. For professional breakdancers concerned about ceding dancing to the robots: Don't worry, engineers say that this input method will allow humans to easily teach movements into Asimo, without tediously programming each movement to each joint. Read on below for a video of the plucky robot in action.

There's been a lot of talk lately about when motion controlled gaming is going to hit the PC market, mostly from Microsoft in relation to their Kinect.  Since the company makes both PC software and a major gaming console with a tantalizingly resourceful video-based motion detection system, it's not unrealistic to think that Microsoft will eventually integrate Kintect with Windows. In fact, Microsoft's CEO has already said as much.  But for the people who just can't wait as long as "eventually," and for the people who just can't wait to decry the arrival of motion detection for the PC as the end of PC gaming (you know, again), Razer has made a motion controller for Portal 2.  And only Portal 2.

This week, after months of anticipation, Sony revealed its new motion sensitive controller, the Move, at the Game Developer's Conference. the Move walks a path already trodden by Nintendo's Wiimote, the primary controller for the Wii, and so, one might ask, how does Nintendo feel about this long awaited foray into their territory?

Predictably, they're pretty calm about it. Motion sensitivity has been the Wii's claim to fame, while other consoles have focused on HD graphics and processing power, but now Sony is rolling out the Move, and Microsoft is hard at work on its own motion sensing Project Natal. Kotaku asked Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America, if this might mean that Nintendo should be looking to move into HD.

"For us high definition by itself is not the next frontier," Reggie Fils-Aime... told Kotaku. "For us we need to provide a whole new compelling experience in our next generation."

Sony has finally revealed the name and form of its new motion controller for the PlayStation, the PlayStation Move.  Like Nintendo's Wiimote and Nun-chuck, it also has an off-hand peripheral with a joystick.  Unlike the Nun-chuck, there is no cord, and, unlike the Wiimote, the Move has... Please pay attention, Nintendo. Rechargeable batteries.