| The Japanese has always been a keen bunch for the | | | | westerners who portray robots as merciless and |
| world of robotics. They are so engrossed in the | | | | violent killing machines in the movies and in general |
| robotics industry that they constantly introduce new | | | | science fiction, the Japanese have long seen robots as |
| kinds of hi-tech robots to the global market, while the | | | | friendly helpers and catalysts in industrial dealings, as |
| rest of the world is struggling to keep up. In fact, robots | | | | they work faster and more precise. The Japanese are |
| are already taken for granted in some Japanese | | | | also more accepting of robotics because unlike |
| factories, as there are robots everywhere. Robots | | | | Roman Catholicism or Islam, their native Shinto religion |
| greet you when you enter facilities. Robots make | | | | does not view it as immoral. To the Japanese, the idea |
| sushi. Robots clean the floors. They wash your hands. | | | | of a robot with feelings and mental capacity is not as |
| They serve tea. They plant rice and tend paddies. In | | | | threatening as it might be in other cultures. |
| Japan, humans and robots interact socially as they | | | | Robot revolution |
| routinely live side by side. | | | | Other than the Japanese, a lot of people are |
| Financial statistics on robotics | | | | anticipating the robot revolution, where robots would |
| The robotics revolution is extremely important for the | | | | walk the streets, talk like human beings, and work like |
| Japanese. With approximately 25% of the population | | | | horses. That revolution has been going on quietly for |
| at age 65 and older, the country is banking heavily on | | | | quite some time now in Japan. With over 400,000 |
| robots to replenish the lack of manpower and care for | | | | robots working at factories in 2005, Japan is |
| the elderly. For almost a decade now, the Japanese | | | | undoubtedly an industrial robot powerhouse. In fact, the |
| government has funded a plethora of science projects | | | | country's leading financial experts believe that due to |
| involving the creation, design, and research of robots. | | | | high supply and stable demand, the cost of machinery |
| These include a $50 million injection for the first phase | | | | is already going down while labor costs are steadily |
| of a humanoid robotics project, and an annual $10 | | | | rising. This means that robots would have to replace |
| million from 2006 to 2010 to develop key robotics | | | | low-cost workers soon, thereby greatly boosting |
| technologies. Further, the government estimates the | | | | productivity. Further, Japan's Trade Ministry recently |
| robotics industry will experience a very lofty rise from | | | | announced its request for 1 million industrial robots to |
| $5 billion in 2006 to $26 billion in 2010, and nearly $70 | | | | be installed all over the country by 2025. Each robot is |
| billion by 2025. | | | | said to be capable of replacing 10 low-cost employees. |
| Robots are humans' friends | | | | This means the guaranteed 1 million-robot army of |
| Remember Tamagotchi, the hand held device that | | | | workers will eventually represent 10 million human |
| allows you to raise and take care of a virtual pet? | | | | workers. In Japan, that is about 20% of the current |
| That particular invention exemplifies how the Japanese | | | | work force. Indeed, robots are the cornerstone of |
| view the existence or the need for robots. Unlike us | | | | Japan's global competitiveness. |