Archive for July 3rd, 2009

Nice, but I’ll take the Kindle, please

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

I tried to find the blog where I learned about this enormous reading contraption from Japan this morning, but I couldn’t find it. I searched on the term “reading robot” and quickly found another source.

Equipped with character recognition software, this oversized robot can read printed materials. It’s expressive ability is similar to the Kindle’s, which is to say, it is surprisingly good for a machine, but needs a lot of work before it’s ready.

I love robots. I think it is amazing what they can be programmed to do. But this one is overkill. The developers say it will be great for reading to kids or old folks. So maybe it’s really a metal nanny, instead of a reader. I don’t think this will promote reading, but it sure will promote alienation between parents and children. Why bond to mom or dad when I have this lovely machine? Send me a Kindle, instead. Better yet, send me Grandma!

Here is a video:

Thanks to Pink Tentacle for the article on this robotic miscue.

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The Boat

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

On the way to pick my daughter up from a friend’s house, my wife and I drove picoday17ha 150x150 The Boatby a small sailboat for sale and sail. It was fairly old, but in very good shape, with OK sails and trailer, and a fairly new motor. I suppose the gentleman selling it was feeling old and wanted to sell it off. It was a very good price.It was hard not to hitch it to the van and drive it home. It was a lot like this one here.

Like last year, it has been far to nuts to find time for anything more than sleep during June, and that’s been reduced to 4 1/2 to 5 hours a night. This year, July looks like it, too, will be overbooked. I don’t see any advantage to summer this way. No fun. No adventure. No time at all for dreams.


island boat by ~GlassWind on deviantART

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