At Japan's Osaka University, the first Human/Robot play was staged to an audience made up of media--all humans.
The 20 minute production called Hataraku Watashi ("I, Worker") is written by playwright Oriza Hirata. The play is about the plight of two working housekeeper robots--one of whom loses its zeal for working--and their owners.
The non-human actors, modified Wakamaru robots usually used for helping the disabled and seniors, have perhaps found another calling.
According to The Sun, one person who viewed the play said, "It was very surprising, you could see the robots thinking about how to respond--you could swear they were feeling emotion."
All the world's a stage / And all the men, women and robots merely players...
Robot Actors
Osaka University Stages First Human/Wakamaru Play
Trend Themes
1. Robot Actors - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the use of robots as actors in theater productions, opening up new possibilities for human-robot collaborations.
2. Human/robot Plays - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop and stage more human/robot plays that explore the dynamic between humans and robots, fostering empathy and understanding.
3. Humanoid Assistive Robots - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Repurpose humanoid assistive robots to engage in creative endeavors such as acting, expanding their potential applications beyond their original purpose.
Industry Implications
1. Theater - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introduce robots into the theater industry to enhance performances, creating unique and captivating experiences for audiences.
2. Artificial Intelligence - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Combine artificial intelligence and robotics to create more lifelike and emotionally responsive robots for various industries, including entertainment and companionship.
3. Assistive Robotics - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the potential of repurposing assistive robots for creative tasks, opening up new markets and applications in the field of robotics.