Robots command humans to do their bidding. Welcome to the future

Researchers have completed tests using robots and blindfolded victims humans hooked up to electrodes in order to do tasks for them. Getting a ball in a basket is just the beginning. They are hoping to use this for rehabilitation purposes for people who can't get those muscles to work properly. That should hold them over at least until the robot apocalypse.

Video after the break:

Honda's ASIMO robot is not just smarter, but fitter, happier, more productive than ever before

Honda's AWESOME-O ASIMO robot has gone through some changes recently. New behavior control technology means that the robot can now make decisions on it's own, independent of human input. Honda says that ASIMO can choose its next move by combining long-term and short-term sensor data, including recognizing human gestures and speech, thanks to its onboard  set of visual and auditory sensors.

The robot, having recently shed 13.23 lbs (6 kg), can now run at a maximum of 5.9 mph (9 km/hr) and jump up and down indefinitely. ASIMO also now has independent finger movement control, making him able to handle much more delicate tasks.

Videos after the jump

Don't call it K-9. NSK developes robotic guide dog. Now with Kinect-O-Vision!

Japanese manufacturer NSK, maker of robot-related parts including ball bearings, has announced that they are developing a quadrupedal robot that could serve as a guide dog for the blind. Now working closely with the UEC, they are hard at work on a prototype, which uses a Microsoft Kinect sensor to detect stairs and other obstacles. New features include voice recognition, so that the robot can be easily commanded to start, stop, and move up and down the stairs.

Microsoft promotes "Kinect Effect"

What is almost frightening is that if this video were posted a year and a half ago, most people would consider this a piece of concept future from Microsoft, and one that only has a toe dipped in the waters of reality. Well, its quite obvious now that this video only scratches the surface of what can be done right at this moment with regards to entertainment as well as science and practical applications. It seems that the future needs to start picking up the pace a bit because we seem to be catching up with it at a very fast pace.

HoloDesk shows more brilliant R&D from Microsoft Research

Microsoft Research keeps one-upping themselves. Again, none of the technologies are particularly new. Its like Microsoft uses the arm for brainstorming tech part combinations until they get the right combination to make something practical and natural. Once they get the right set of pieces and it can be proven to be a viable product, they whittle it down into a finished product. (like Kinect) There are many practical applications that can be used for this format and it could also be quite a training tool.

What makes up HoloDesk? So lets see: We have a partially reflective mirror barrier that you can see through, but also reflects images from a display on top. The Kinect-like camera is used to capture hand recognition to track your movement and and face recognition to position the holographic effect where it needs to be, depending on your relative line of sight.

I really like this new Microsoft. They seem to have a heart and soul and believe in bringing cool stuff out of science fiction to real life. Gone, seems to the drab, boring Microsoft of old. Its been changing since probably around the time that they designed the Xbox 360, but didn't nearly entrench the company as a whole until much more recently. Good timing too. With the rise of smart phones and now tablets, they are becoming the ones having to fight for market share. Still, they are on the right course to having a much more appealing brand identity. They have always been a software company, but something sparked in them since the original Xbox: The fact that you need new technology to grow the software. A lot of their newest innovations seem to have a harmony between the two.