Robots

1. Robots Where Were the Japanese Robots When They Were Needed?

2. Robots in Academic Writing

3. Robocon

4. Role and Potential • Jennifer Robertson Univ. of Michigan anthropologist • At home, robots are about to replace the role of the grandmother and in the industrial sector, robots are more popular than foreign laborers according to anthropologist Jennifer Robertson. Robertson is researching on the effects of robots on Japanese society.

5. Jennifer Robertson • Jennifer Robertson is Professor of Anthropology and the History of Art at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. • She earned her Ph.D. in Anthropology from Cornell University in 1985, where she also earned a B.A. in the History of Art in 1975. • The recipient of many fellowships and awards, Robertson was an Invited Fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (1996-1997) and is a Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation (2011-2012). • Robertson is currently writing and editing articles and books on the cultural history of Japanese colonialism; eugenics, bioethics, and ideologies of "blood" in Japan and Israel; the genre of war art; and humanoid robots and cyberculture in Japan and elsewhere.

6. Robertson Video Questions • Always look for what is NOT said, NOT shown • What is a robot? • Joseph Engelberger, a pioneer in industrial robotics, once remarked: "I can't define a robot, but I know one when I see one.“ (Wikipedia “robot”) • Is that good enough for cross-country comparisons? • Numerical assertions • Sociological assertions

7. Humanoid “Robots”

8. Asimo • ASIMO is not an autonomous robot. It can't enter a room and make decisions on its own about how to navigate. ASIMO either has to be programmed to do a specific job in a specific area that has markers that it understands, or it has to be manually controlled by a human. • ASIMO can be controlled by four methods: • Wireless controller (sort of like a joystick) • Gestures • Voice commands • (http://science.howstuffworks.com/asimo4.htm)

9. Asimo • The wireless joystick controller operates ASIMO's movements the same way you would operate a remote-control car. You can make ASIMO go forward, backward, sideways, diagonally, turn in place, walk around a corner or run in circles. ASIMO does have the ability to self-adjust its steps. If you have it walk forward, and it encounters a slope or some sort of obstacle, ASIMO automatically adjusts its steps to accommodate the terrain.

10. Why Humanoid Robots • Puzzles non-Japanese observers • Cultural explanations • Need for stair-climbing capability (Japan) • Prohibition on man playing God (“Western”) • Immigrant substitution • Indirect scientific benefit • Developing walking robot → advances in control technology that can be used elsewhere • PR • not to be taken seriously • Manga • Generation of engineers raised on Tetsuwan Atom and similar

11. Robots vs Immigrants • Japan, like many countries across the globe, is facing huge challenges in caring for its aging population. • Its hospitals are stretched because there are not enough nurses to cope. • The low birth rate there means foreign workers need to be recruited but there is a widespread opposition to immigration in the country as many Japanese value an ethnically homogenous society. • For some, robots may be preferable to allowing foreigners to work there. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8687196.stm)

12. Immigrant Labor • Skilled • Very open • English language instructors without graduate degrees, teaching qualifications are “skilled” • Effectively unlimited visa renewal • Unskilled • Prohibited in principle • Loop holes • “Students” – 130,000 • “Trainees” – 130,000 • “Nikkeijin” – 240,000 • Tolerated illegal workers – 200,000+ (?)

13. Robots vs Immigrants • Topic around 2010 • BBC source? • Some Japanese statements • More common in foreign press as an illustration of Japanese xenophobia or even “racism”

14. Key to Japan’s Recovery? Hire More Non-Japanese Workers • Bloomberg 27 Jun 25, 2013 • The most obvious remedy -- to lift the barriers to immigration that have made Japan one of the most homogenous societies on earth -- is dismissed as a political impossibility. Even the supposedly fearless prime minister, Shinzo Abe, refuses to touch the issue.

15. Japan may boost immigrant numbers • Japan Times 14 March 2014 • While stressing that no decision has been made, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Friday did not deny a media report that the administration is considering increasing the number of immigrants to boost Japan’s potential for long-term economic growth. • The Sankei Shimbun reported Friday that the Abe administration has decided to consider accepting a massive number of immigrants, possibly as many as 200,000 a year, to make up for the rapid aging and shrinking of the Japanese population.

16. Why the Difference? • Time? • Underestimate Abe and his “nationalism” • Nationalism is not just visits to Yasukuni • Nationalism means a strong Japan • Womenomics • Immigrants • Operating from stereotypes and lack of detailed knowledge of Japanese politics • Pro immigrant lobby within Diet since at least 2008 • Big business pro immigrant

17. Robots in Geriatric Care • Theory, not practice • Technology inadequate • Not cost effective • Mechanical devices have some application • Powered beds • Lift assist devices • Humanoid robots • Technology in search of a use • John Campbell • Emeritus Professor of Political Science, Univ. of Michigan • Specialist on Japanese health care, geriatric care • Not being sought by geriatric care industry

18. Industrial Robots • Robertson • Japan has sixty percent of the world’s industrial robots • Common claim • Questions to ask • What is an industrial robot? • Is the claim accurate? • Is it “good” that Japan has NN percent of the world’s industrial robots

19. What is an industrial robot?

20. What is an industrial robot? • An industrial robot is defined by ISO as an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose manipulator programmable in three or more axes. • Typical applications of robots include welding, painting, assembly, pick and place (such as packaging, palletizing and SMT), product inspection, and testing; all accomplished with high endurance, speed, and precision. • (Wikipedia – “industrial robot”)

21. Usage Industrial robots by country

22. Industrial robots by country • 2007 data • Usage (percent of world stock) around 30% • Probable subsequent decline • Korea, China, etc. up • 2004 data • 42% • 60% claim originated in 1960s • Ratio of robots to workers • High • Japanese economists suggest too high

23. Industrial Robots by Country • Production • Various regions experienced different rates of recovery in robot sales in 2010. Asia (including Australia and New Zealand) was on top with an increase of 132% to about 70,000 units, the highest level ever recorded. The most dynamic markets were China, the Republic of Korea and the ASEAN countries. Sales to these markets almost tripled. In 2010, the Republic of Korea topped the list with some 23,500 robots sold, up from 7,800 units in 2009. Robot sales to Japan recovered by 72% to about 21,900 units. In 2010, the motor vehicle suppliers continued to reduce robot investments while the electrical/electronics industry considerably increased robot purchases. 15.000 new robots were supplied to China. It became the fourth largest robot market following North America . • (http://www.ifr.org/industrial-robots/statistics/)

24. Industrial robots by country

25. Industrial robots by country

26. 空洞化 • 日本の製造業の海外生産比率 • 1985年度に3.0% • 1990年度は6.4% • 2009年度は17.8% • 秋葉原の電気製品 • 日本製のものが少ない • 日本製といっても、部品は海外から調達

27. 空洞化 • 競争力の低下 • 製鉄　日本からインド • 造船　日本から韓国 • 家電　日本から中国 • 半導体　日本から台湾・韓国・ドイツ・米国

28. 空洞化 • １９８９　「NO」と言える日本 • ソニーの会長であった盛田昭夫 • 通産大臣であった石原慎太郎（現・東京都知事） • 世界は特に半導体の生産において日本の技術に依存するようになった。日本はその技術の優位性を交渉の武器として使用すべきである。彼はアメリカに対する交渉手段として、ソ連と機密情報を交換するというような脅しさえも支持した。

29. 空洞化 • 福島原発と神話崩壊 • 日本の原発は安全 • 日本の原発技術は世界一 • 日本はロボット大国 • 作業しているロボットは米国製（英国技術） • 日本は工作機械大国 • 冷やすために超大型機械は米国製（ドイツ技術）

30. 空洞化

31. Robophobia • Assertion • Japanese – positive attitudes due to friendly robots in manga and anime • Non-Japanese (aka “westerners”) – negative attitudes due to sinister robots in Hollywood films • Research • Limited, small samples • Finds Japanese more negative than non-Japanese

32. Expertise • Robertson self-certified as expert on Japan and Japanese robots by virtue of “lived twenty years in Japan” • Doing what? • When? • Most Americans or Brits aged twenty have lived in US or Britain for twenty years? • Experts on US or Britain? • Experts on robotics in US or Britain?

33. Expertise • Robertson’s academic background • Anthropology • Art history • Presents self as qualified to write and lecture on robotics in Japan, geriatric care in Japan, etc. • Reverse role • Japanese robotics engineer • Mechanical or electrical engineering • Presents self as qualified to write and lecture on art history or anthropology

34. Techno Hype • Books, articles, YouTube videos have portrayed Japan as being at the forefront of robots and technology • Foreign visitors often disappointed with reality • Techno hype used for political purposes in 1980s • Japan as No. 1 era • Uncommon today

35. Fifth Generation Fallacy

36. Fifth Generation Project • The Fifth Generation Computer Systems project (FGCS) was an initiative by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry, begun in 1982, to create a computer using massively parallel computing/processing. • It was to be the result of a massive government/industry research project in Japan during the 1980s. It aimed to create an "epoch-making computer" with-supercomputer-like performance and to provide a platform for future developments in artificial intelligence. (Wikipedia)

37. Fifth Generation Projects Results • Essentially zero • Largely forgotten • Seemed important because • Japan was doing well in other areas • Japan can do no wrong • “Halo effect” • Popular writing but authors who were not specialists on either Japan or AI (artificial intelligence) • US agencies could use “Japan threat” to justify increased budgets

38. Software Factories • Software factory refers to a structured collection of related software assets that aids in producing computer software applications or software components according to specific, externally defined end-user requirements through an assembly process. A software factory applies manufacturing techniques and principles to software development to mimic the benefits of traditional manufacturing. Software factories are generally involved with outsourced software creation.

39. Software Factories • Term originated with Hitachi in 1969 • Software for mainframe computers • Popularized by Michael Cusamano • MIT professor • Historian with no training or experience in software • Played into Japan as No. 1 fear • Took corporate PR claims at face value • Did same with later book on Microsoft

40. Software Factories • Term seldom used today • Key concept “reusable components” has been declared “dead” in recent writing about software development • Ignored trends evident at time book was written (1989) • Microcomputers replacing mainframes • Software specific to an OS (Windows) was replacing software specific to the hardware from one company • Software production was becoming dispersed • Open source software was beginning to replace proprietary software

41. Caveat Lector • Beware of writing on Japanese science or technology by journalists and academics who do not have high level science or engineering qualifications in the subject area. • Look out for corporate hype • Distinguish between prototypes and applied technology • Pay attention to definitions

42. That’s All Folks! • Slides and Readings • www2.gol.com/users/ehk/keio/images • ehk.servebeer.com/keio/images • Office Hour • None at Keio • Ask questions after lecture or by email • Email • ehk@gol.com (no attachments) • ehkuso@gmail.com • Always put your name, student number and course name (“images”) in the SUBJECT line