Tech

Humanoid Robot Nadine May be the Receptionist in Future Offices

Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Dec 29, 2015 10:13 AM EST

The first humanoid receptionist robot may have finally been created. Scientists have developed Nadine, a robot that is friendly, looks you in the eye when you speak, and will greet you back.

Nadine looks almost like a human being, with life-like skin and brunette hair. The robot can remember your name and previous conversations that you had with her, and even has her own personality, mood and emotions.

Nadine is the latest social robot developed by scientists at NTU. The robot is powered by intelligent software that's similar to Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana, and can be a personal assistant in offices and homes in the future. The robot is also being developed to be a social companion for both the young and the elderly.

"Robotics technologies have advanced significantly over the past few decades and are already being used in manufacturing and logistics," said Nadia Thalmann, one of the creators of Nadine, in a news release. "As countries worldwide face challenges of an aging population, social robots can be one solution to address the shrinking workforce, become personal companions for children and the elderly at home, and even serve as a platform for healthcare services in the future."

A humanoid robot like Nadine is just one of the interfaces where the technology can be applied. It can also be made virtual and appear on a TV or computer screen, and become a low-cost virtual companion.

Currently, researchers are further developing a robot, and also providing a new way to look at how robotics could change the future of the workforce.

Related Articles

These Robot Reindeer May Pull Santa's Sleigh: Watch the Robotic Animals in Action (VIDEO)

New, Robot Locust Can Leap High into the Air

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).

See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone

More on SCIENCEwr