March 16, 2008: Robot Sommelier
 

http://cellar.org/2008/Sommelier.jpg

From NEC Technologies comes this cute little guy, billed as the world's first robot sommelier. It can "taste" wines, differentiate between several dozen brands, and even recommend food to go along with them. And you don't even have to open the bottle--the sensor on its arm shines infrared light into your wine of choice, and determines the ingredients based on what wavelengths are absorbed. The company also says it would be possible to personalize one of the robots to be able to decide whether its owner would like a particular wine or not.

In initial design stages, it was trained to taste a variety of foods before the researchers decided to focus on the subtleties of wine "because that seemed like a real challenge." But perhaps the limited ingredients actually made its job easier: at an earlier demonstration of the robot in 2006, "when a reporter’s hand was placed against the robot’s taste sensor, it was identified as prosciutto. Subsequently, a cameraman was mistaken for bacon."

I should think the great variety of glass bottles from all over the world would make it more difficult.

Everyone knows cameramen are pigs. :D

Gives new meaning to the term "Well oiled machine".

So now you can go wining, dining, and champagne shining.

I don't trust any robot that thinks yellow tail is an acceptable wine for drinking by humans.

I Like Yellowtail! Even though Barefoot is my favorite. :2cents:

But as far as this thing goes... I'll only be impressed when it can open the bottle and pour me a glass!

But...how does it test those wines that come in a box?!

Went to an open house where my brother works, and their company makes these. Saw one in action.

They built one of those on Monster House, from scratch from off-the-shelf parts.

I LOVE it!!!:beer:
And now I want one

Wondering if I can get it to do the laundry too

Yeah. And I like my boxed wine with a pinch of sugar in it...will the robot do that for me? And why no doobie-rolling 'bots? Now those would sell, baby.

I'm thinking chances are good that if you like box-o-wine, you don't need the robot. You need a swift blow to the head. ;)

I want to know if I can take it to the liquor store with me. Or a vinyard. Can you haggle on wine based on the robot's analysis??

Are you crazy? I can barely keep myself in weed now. Imagine a robot coming up to me all the time with a rolled joint in its hand...:bong::jig: :fumette:

If you would haggle over a bottle of wine, you probably won't spring for the robot.:borg: