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The Art and Science of Japanese Robots - An Evening with Tim Hornyak
 
09.20.067:30 PM - 9:00 PM 
Free members / $4 public 
JBL Theatre, next door to SFM in EMP 
325 5th Avenue North 
Seattle, WA 98109 
 
“A fascination with robots pervades Japanese culture, from cartoon shows to consumer toys to corporate engineering research. While in the West, robots are seen as threatening—think of the “Terminator”-style tales of technology out to destroy its human creators—in Japan, robots are far more commonly seen as partners, cooperating with the humanity whose image they wear. And several companies, including Honda, Sony, Fujitsu, and JVC, have spent millions in developing robots who return the investment not through money but by serving as technological ambassadors to the public. Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots (September 2006, $26.95) explores the reasons behind Japan’s unique affection for robots, and looks at the surprising direction in which robo-mania is taking the country.

Science and technology journalist Timothy N. Hornyak takes readers on a fascinating and beautifully-illustrated tour through the robot kingdom, interacting with the latest technological pets and playmates, interviewing the engineers and designers currently creating the inhabitants of tomorrow, and even visiting the Osaka RoboCup, where every year teams of robots from across the world face off in games of soccer. Along the way, Hornyak reveals several different factors that have played a part in Japan’s enthusiasm for robots.”