Indiana State Fair: "Bridges to Japan" Exhibition

August 6 - 22, 2010

Robots from Japan

Wakamaru – Communications Robot

** High-resolution image available on request - please email john.lajiness@japanindiana.org.

Designed by the renowned industrial designer Mr. Toshiyuki Kita, Wakamaru is a robot developed and based on the concept of "The 21st Century Product of Your Dreams," a robot that can live with human beings. Wakamaru can speak and carry on natural conversation, shake hands, and even look at the face of the person he’s speaking to! Wakamaru will be on display throughout the fair, as well as making special performance appearances everyday thanks to the support of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/products/detail/wakamaru_about.html

Paro - Therapeutic Robot

** High-resolution image available on request - please email john.lajiness@japanindiana.org.

Designed as a baby harp seal, the PARO robot is covered in pure white synthetic fur and has built-in intelligence providing psychological, physiological, and social effects through physical interaction with humans. It has been used in hospitals and healthcare organizations with elderly residents, people with disabilities, and dementia patients, as well as in schools for autistic children. PARO has five different types of sensors over its body that allows it to perceive people and the environment, and respond to touch, light, sound, temperature, and posture. The Japan External Trade Organization of Chicago has facilitated the daily appearance of “Paro-chan”, the therapeutic seal pup courtesy of Paro Robots U.S.

I-Fairy – Receptionist Robot

** High-resolution image available on request - please email john.lajiness@japanindiana.org.

The “I” in I-Fairy stands for “Intelligent”, “Information”, and “Icon”, and the robot’s futuristic design is based on the image of a lovely fairy. The I-Fairy is an information robot designed to be a communication tool to interact with humans in a friendly manner. Targeted for museums, institutions, and amusement parks, users can program the robot’s voice on a PC with voice synthesis software, which in turn generates movements such as nods or gestures to express a “conversational rhythm” between the robot and audience. The humanoid robot is 1.3m tall and has movement capability in its head, shoulders, arms and body. The Japan External Trade Organization of Chicago has facilitated the special appearance of the “I-Fairy” Receptionist Robot, which recently made headlines when it conducted a wedding in Japan, courtesy of the Kokoro Company.

“Bridges to Japan” at the Indiana State Fair: Performance Times
Friday, August 6: 10:30 am, 12:00 pm, 5:30 pm
Saturday, August 7: 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm, 6:00 pm
Sunday, August 8: 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 5:00 pm
Monday, August 9: 11:30 am, 5:00 pm, 6:30 pm