Meet the first real personal digital assistant?


Ultranote is all about ultraportable computers but here's one that doesn't even need your help to be carried around...





Honda's Asimo was shown briefly in Brussels. An occasion to meet face-to-face with this wonder toy.

Facts and figures:

-Asimo is an autonomous humanoid robot.
-It's a research prototype.
-It can recognize faces, sounds, explore and interact with its environment
-Its weight is +/-55 kilos and it is 1.6 meter tall.
-Honda's ultimate goal is to produce a robot that can assist humans in everyday's life.
-Research on bipedic walk started in 1986.
-The first autonomous prototype was 1.91 meter tall
-The new model (not shown) has a hip joint that helps it running
-At least half a dozen of processors are involved in balance-keeping and recognition processes.

While the first models had a very rugged appearance, improvements are now going towards more user-friendliness, a robot that people might want to talk to.





How big is it? Well...bigger than an OQO that's for sure

About the size and shape of a 13-years old going to school









Want to see those legs run? Honda's website has a video demo of the  new Asimo running
at 3 KM/H. Flash Player 7 necessary.