This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

The New Robots Are a Lot Like Us

Last week, 95 types of robots gathered in Yokohama, Japan. Big 'bots. Little 'bots. Pet 'bots. Worker 'bots. With a little help from their human friends, they all showed up at the Robodex 2003 fair.

Since its creation three years ago, the world's largest robot fair has given gadget lovers an exciting preview of the next generation of robots.

Humanoids, robots based on the human form, were the standing favorites. Honda introduced a new and improved version of ASIMO. The 4-foot-tall robot can now recognize voices and faces. Sony's latest SDR-4X can make 1,000 movements and use 20,000 words.

These high-tech hijinks may create new partnerships between humans and robots. One humanoid can schedule appointments for its owner. Another can detect a person's emotions from his tone of voice.

Are these robots the face of the future? Only if they can find their place in the present! Many are still too expensive to become wildly popular.

ASIMO is currently available for rental in Japan for about $180,000 a year. Says Stephen Keeney, of Honda: "The cost will come down as technology catches up with people's dreams."

Next: A Messy Masters