Robot Conduct Japanese Wedding

We all know that the technology nowadays is running berserk but to actually entrusting one's happiness to the technology, I guess Japan would be the first. Look at this news. I find it quite interesting :) The difference of culture and the different lifestyles in different countries sometimes really help in opening our eyes :D

The wedding took place at a restaurant in Hibiya Park in central Tokyo, where the I-Fairy, a four foot robot, wore a wreath of flowers and directed a rooftop ceremony. Wires led out from beneath it to a black curtain a few feet away, where a man crouched and clicked commands into a computer.

Japan has one of the most advanced robotics industries in the world, with the government actively supporting the field for future growth. Industrial models in factories are now standard, but recently Japanese companies are making a push to inject robots into everyday life.

Honda makes a walking child-shaped robot, and other firms have developed them to entertain the elderly or play baseball. Kokoro, whose corporate goal is to "touch the hearts of the people," also makes giant dinosaur robots for exhibitions and lifelike android models that can smile and laugh. The company is a subsidiary of Sanrio Co., which owns the rights to Hello Kitty and other Japanese characters.

"This was a lot of fun. I think that Japanese have a strong sense that robots are our friends. Those in the robot industry mostly understand this, but people mainly want robots near them that serve some purpose," said bride Satoko Inoue, 36, who works at manufacturer Kokoro, who made the robot.

"It would be nice if the robot was a bit more clever, but she is very good at expressing herself," said new husband Tomohiro Shibata, 42, a professor of robotics at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology in central Japan.

The I-Fairy sells for about 6.3 million yen (£47,000) and three are in use in Singapore, the U.S. and Japan, according to company spokesman Kayako Kido.

Source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/7730865/Robot-conducts-Japanese-wedding.html

You can watch the video of the conduction of the wedding from the source :)

The robot is kinda cute anyway haha! But it really surprised me on how the Japanese actually see robots as their friends in the life. This shows the advanced technology in Japan to the extent that the Japanese are so familiar with these high-tech equipments to even trust them enough to take part in the deciding the happiness of their life. If you have the chance, would you allow a robot to conduct your wedding? If I have the chance, I would :D