The advent of the robot
The pet substitute 'AIBO the dog' manufactured by Sony along with Honda's ASIMO and ERATO's PINO ― the latter two modeled on the humanoid form ―are just a few of the latest developments in robotics systems technology. Lately, the admiration for robotics technology has been increasing.
Industrial robots, for years now, have found their place in factories, resulting in an increase in production and decrease in personnel expense. In the recent past, we have observed robots with the capacity to walk while maintaining balance and at the same time, with a 'robot's eye', judging distance to obstacles placed in its path. Now, robots are entering our daily lives. Some robots, used for waste management, are quickly replacing humans, while other more advanced robots, modeled on the animal type, closely resemble the common domestic animal(the pet substitute). The twenty-first century is sure to yield major changes in robotics technology. These changes will make the robot more visible and a part of our everyday reality.
Computer technology in art
The rapid evolution of the computer in the 90s, brought Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Life and Virtual Reality, not to mention advances in multimedia and internet technology which are now an essential part of our lives. The people who have applied this technology, are not only those concerned with research, but also those people creating art. Many artists have historically tried to absorb modern-day culture into their works. Similarly, today's technology is being absorbed into artistic creations as a concept or tool of contemporary society. Artists are trying to react sensitively to this inclusion of science, which could potentially change the way art is viewed.
The implementation of computer technology over the last ten years has also produced many new amalgamated fields in the world of art. Installations combining interactive sound and interactive imagery now have an accepted existence as performance pieces and concert works. This collaboration is also true for works combing art with the internet and Virtual Reality.
Are we able to further develop the aesthetics that have been built by various artists in the fields of New Music, Performance Art, and Interactive Imagery? Are we able to create a new field of which the robot is the point of contact? By establishing a new direction, perhaps a deeper understanding of music and performance art may be revealed. One day, if successful, the robot may takes its place in art museums alongside sculpture; or perhaps we will be able to watch robots perform opera.
Interface and instrument
To the layman, watching an artist use an interface that incorporates muscular movement and body motion may simply appear as the act of gesturing. In fact, the artist must be highly aware of his movement and he must have exacting control over his muscles.
Compare this with the act of performing, for example, a Chopin etude. A musician must simultaneously control his fingers, arms and shoulders as well as his eyes and breath. In a world of micro-movements, a musician must have absolute control over numerous actions happening at the same time while remaining sensitive to the overall gesture. Furthermore, a musician's sensitivity is not only reserved for 'the action'; but he must also be conscious of other aspects of music and sound delivery such as: realizing complicated time structure; using his ear for good sound judgment; having a sensitivity towards the difference in speed of a complicated curve ― even if such an operation is merely considered a parameter of the interface.
As a test, a person would be quick to discover how difficult it is to manipulate, through an interface, the action of a robot hitting a drum. Achieving an adequate drum sound while maintaining a hierarchy of dynamics is a challenge.
Robot brain
In Paleolithic times, human beings possessed an inferior cerebrum compared to modern man(the moment in human evolution when man more closely resembled modern-day primates than his current condition). As the brain developed, human beings also experienced increased athletic ability. In particular, growth of the brain lead to a high competency in walking while maintaining a balance on 2 feet and judging distance to obstacles, etc..
It is believed that, among the different parts of the brain, a strong distinction of function can be ascertained between the left portion and the right portion; one side is thought to control emotional and intuitive activity while the other logical thinking.
If we were to ignore what present computer science could offer ― assuming computer science can only function in a similar way to the right side of the brain, the logical thinking side - we would indeed be a primitive species. As stated above, computer technology can function in a similar way to the right side of the brain to a certain extent. This leads to the question, can computer technology also be used to simulate left side activity. In other words, can we use computers to act out the emotional and intuitive activities of man?
The act of performing music is not only about the control of a complicated set of body movements; but left side and right side brain activity is a necessity. That is to say, logical thinking, emotional awareness and body motion are all needed to perform efficiently.
On the one hand, music can be seen as a logical sequence of events over time. These events occur as a result of problem solving and rely on the interaction of a set of parameters. On the other hand, music derives itself from less calculable things such as 'good' rhythm sense and poetic significance and expression.
Ultimately, is it possible for the robot to make music as we have defined it, i.e.: to think logically; to play with emotion; to have a good sense of rhythm; to realize poetic expression; to achieve proper pitch(frequency) and delivery of sound; to have a sense of proportion through comparison?
Once we discover the answer, it could become the model on which the robot is structured. Moreover, this answer could be a key to understanding the complexities of the brain.
