The Japanese crowd sits hushed and somber as the character on stage turns away from his co-star, an actress seated on the floor in front of a small table. He lowers his head, then turns to face the audience with a look that is both blank and inscrutable, yet somehow conveys a profound sense of alarm. Something here is very wrong.
Image: Courtesy Softbank Pepper, Japan's first affordable social robot, goes on sale in February. It can read emotions and will be a platform for new apps.
