Dec. 21, 2005— A new robot can recognize the difference between a mirror image of itself and another robot that looks just like it.

This so-called mirror image cognition is based on artificial nerve cell groups built into the robot's computer brain that give it the ability to recognize itself and acknowledge others.

The ground-breaking technology could eventually lead to robots able to express emotions.
Under development by Junichi Takeno and a team of researchers at Meiji University in Japan, the robot represents a big step toward developing self-aware robots and in understanding and modeling human self-consciousness.

<--The previous is from Discovery.com.

Self-aware robots. What these scientists are doing is called the "dot test", essentially. I've seen videos of it done with chimpanzees and children, where they put a red mark of some kind on the forehead. When the chimp/kid looks in the mirror and puts up a hand to touch the dot on their own head (which they can't see directly), they demonstrate that they are aware that the image in the mirror is him or herself. That indicates self-awareness. These robots are passing this test about 70% of the time.

Self-aware robots.

Self-awareness is one of the neccessary factors involved in emotion, learning, cognition and consciousness.

Ah, those wacky Japanese. I love'em.


Well, Christmas is over with at the Post Awful, thank the Force. It's been a very bad month with me taking 2 Naproxin every morning to avoid the aching shoulders, elbows, etc, from typing too much. 60 hour weeks. Well. It's over with. I anticipate my next paycheck with glee, for it will enable me to get the ISBN numbers for MO, etc. So by the middle of January I should be holding a printed copy of my first novel. I've actually never seen it printed out. I've never printed out a hard copy. So it will be doubly odd.

Then it will be on to Aquaria.


I've been holding off thinking about what the plan is now that school is gone. I had enough to deal with lately just getting through the day without going berserk or having a nervous breakdown. I've also not worked at all on Avalon this month. This is, in fact, the first time I've typed to such an extent on my own home computer all this month, much less the laptop. Mostly by the time I got home at night I had barely the energy to feed the cats and read some fanfic before nose-diving into bed.

What really, really burns my biscuits in all of this these last couple months is that I feel I have no control over my own life anymore. People making plans regarding my life without my input, knowledge or consent. Being forced to quit school and being told it's my own damned fault because I consented to be a PTF and having no recourse or means of compromise. Having no time to myself all this last month since on my off-days I pretty much had to scramble to do things like laundry and shopping and such. I couldn't tell you how many times this past month I've been on the verge of tears at work, feeling trapped and exhausted and seeing no way out. I miss my friends. The only friends I have anymore are at work and these days I'm lucky to see the Media Pirate and Friend A and Friend B and the CGaW once a week. I almost never see Harry anymore. I got so bad one day I came very close to actually throwing my radio when I couldn't get a decent signal.

I'm very seriously considering trying to find a shrink. I need somebody to tell me what to do and how to get out of this corner I've painted myself into. Of course all they'll tell me is what I already know, that I'm depressed, and give me drugs. Cha-ching, next custromer. So there's really no point in going to a shrink cause all they'll do is give you drugs. But if you're looking for mindlessness that's the surest way to go.

I miss school.

For once in my life I actually liked math.

All I am is a failure. It's all I'm ever likely to be, now.