Robot shows stiff Czech PM how to loosen up a bit
Published:
25 August 2003 y., Monday
A robot with impeccable manners charmed guests at a state dinner with his wisecracks and dancing, outshining Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla and showing up his often-mocked social stiffness.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi unveiled an improved version of the 4-foot tall Asimo humanoid on an official visit to the Czech Republic, where the word robot first appeared in author Karel Capek's 1920 play "R.U.R." (Rossum's Universal Robots).
Asimo began working the crowd as soon as he arrived at the dinner late on Thursday, telling jokes, greeting Spidla warmly, and even making a champagne toast before wisecracking that he couldn't drink himself because he is underage.
"Let's drink to Japan and the Czech Republic, and to the friendly relationship between humans and robots," Asimo, made by Honda, said in perfect Czech.
"If Capek could see me, he would definitely be surprised." Spidla smiled at the robot but seemed at a loss for witty conversation.
He turned down Asimo's request for a dance saying only:
"I like science and various technically advanced things."
Šaltinis:
boston.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Ingvar Kamprad, the Swede who founded furniture retail chain IKEA, has overtaken Microsoft's Bill Gates as the world's richest man
more »
Roads in Lithuania are among the best in EU accession states
more »
Anatolij Karpov chess school was inaugurated on May 30 in Vilnius. The school is established in “Santara” Vilnius secondary school.
more »
A family brewer in Chodova Plana, in the western Czech Republic, has invented a new way to enjoy the lager flavour on a slice of toast
more »
Upstairs from a McDonald's and across the hall from a casino, Prague's latest attraction greets visitors with a hulking iron statue of Lenin
more »
Quality of life in Vilnius is higher than in Riga or Tallinn, says a recent poll by Mercer Human Resources Consulting
more »
High tech jumpers and classical philharmonic sounds to welcome the European Year of Education through Sport 2004
more »
Latvian police said a drunk picked up with around twice the blood-alcohol level considered deadly had probably set a world record but would wake with a hangover to match
more »
Ludwig van Beethoven's original manuscript for the scherzo movement of the string quartet in E flat sold for more than Ј1 million ($A2.73 million) at auction early today
more »
Tiger Woods is to marry his Swedish girlfriend Elin Nordegren, the 23-year-old former model’s father has confirmed
more »