Developed by Japan’s Science and Technology Agency and unveiled last week at Osaka University, CB2 is a 1.3 metre robot toddler. This sexless automaton is fully jointed, equipped with hundreds of optical, auditory and tactile sensors, and, just like human babies, is moved with compressed air. It also has grey silicon skin, which only adds to its appeal. As the videos below demonstrate, CB2 approximates a 1- or 2-year-old toddler and can stand with adult assistance. CB2 can also blink, roll over, wave its legs in the air and make a slightly disturbing “eh” noise.

More of CB2 in action here. (H/T, Lepton.) 

If Jeff Han’s multi-touch interface stroked the appropriate membranes, this could also be of interest. Blaise Aguera y Arcas demonstrates Microsoft’s Photosynth. Hyperlinked image content, spatially mapped and allowing very deep zooms.

More here and here. (H/T: Mat.)