When Sci-Fi Fantasy Becomes Creepy Reality

Think this is a picture of a Japanese man checking out a women he might secretly have a crush on?



WRONG! It's a Japanese robotics scientist checking out the life-like female robot he built... but, also probably secretly has a crush on.

Repliee Q1 (at left in both pictures) appeared yesterday at the 2005 World Expo in Japan, where she gestured, blinked, spoke, and even appeared to breathe. Shown with co-creator Hiroshi Ishiguru of Osaka University, the android is partially covered in skinlike silicone. Q1 is powered by a nearby air compressor, and has 31 points of articulation in its upper body.

I love how the article notes "at left in both pictures." I'm always getting my robots and robot scientists confused, aren't you? Also, this is suitably creepy:

Internal sensors allow the android to react "naturally." It can block an attempted slap, for example.

Seems like an odd thing to teach a life-like female robot, no? Is that how one finds out if a woman is real or not?

Check it, check it out!