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The far-out future is here: Toyota's new concept vehicles out-do science fiction (great pics)
Yahoo News Photos ^
Posted on 12/03/2004 11:30:33 AM PST by Wolfstar
Yahoo News caption: Toyota's new concept vehicle i-unit is driven in during its unveiling in Tokyo, Dec. 3, 2004. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
![](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20041203/capt.tok10312030829.japan_toyota_robots_tok103.jpg)
The i-unit, which resembles a wheelchair, is designed to help people get around. It will be displayed at an exposition in Aichi, central Japan, next year. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
![](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/cpress/20041203/capt.b120345a.jpg)
The compact sized vehicle, which runs on lithium-ion batteries, enables the passenger to move among other people in an upright position in low speed mode, while the vehicle reclines in high speed mode to lower the centre of gravity and ensure stable handling, the company said.
![](http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20041203/i/r3369296797.jpg)
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Japan; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: auto; automobile; autoshop; cars; concept; conceptcars; science; scifi; toyota; vehicle
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To: onyx
If it comes to that, count me out of this world.Awwww...spoil sport. [wink]
161
posted on
12/03/2004 1:08:05 PM PST
by
Wolfstar
(Counting down the days to when the new White House puppy arrives.)
To: Chad Fairbanks
That would be my instinct as well. : )
162
posted on
12/03/2004 1:10:00 PM PST
by
DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
(I just saved money on my car insurance by switching to Geico.)
To: Wolfstar
It was a 1995 Saturday Night Live skit. I remember watching it and howling with laughter, because of how dead-pan they played it. I mean, you've seen those insurance commercials on cable TV... I thought it was so funny, I remembered it well enough to Google the script nine years on.
163
posted on
12/03/2004 1:10:17 PM PST
by
Chemist_Geek
("Drill, R&D, and conserve" should be our watchwords! Energy independence for America!)
To: Wolfstar
A robot that does all the housework would be welcome.
In fact, I'd go and sit on Santa's knee to beg for one
of those. :)
164
posted on
12/03/2004 1:10:49 PM PST
by
onyx
To: jriemer
165
posted on
12/03/2004 1:10:53 PM PST
by
mountaineer
(Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. Just kidding, you can hate me.)
To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
Drats. Could have been fun ;0)
166
posted on
12/03/2004 1:12:02 PM PST
by
Chad Fairbanks
('Hate' is just a special kind of Love we give to people who suck.)
To: Little Pig
There was actually a Japanese Anime about a robotic hospital bed that, when it's occupant expresses his dying wish to see the ocean one last time, does everything it can to make that wish come true.The idea is really kind of touching. Of course, maybe I'm thinking of the old Waltons episode where some old lady is dying and wants to see the ocean. Oh no, wait! It must have been the Little House on the Prairie episode where some kid is dying and wants to see the ocean, and the kids take him on a train trip. Hey, maybe those Hollyweird writers ripped off the Japanese idea!
167
posted on
12/03/2004 1:12:04 PM PST
by
Wolfstar
(Counting down the days to when the new White House puppy arrives.)
To: Wolfstar
The robot won't let him die -- which will lead to a spate of reprogram-the-robot crimes by heirs wanting to get their hands on Grandpa's loot. Except he won't have any because he will have lived long enough to spend it all.
In fact, that'll be the end. The Robot will say, "Insert another token to keep living" and Grandpa won't have another one.
GAME REALLY OVER.
Shalom.
168
posted on
12/03/2004 1:12:05 PM PST
by
ArGee
(After 517, the abolition of man is complete)
To: billygoatgruff
are those condoms on her knee? Good. I thought I was the only one thinking that.
169
posted on
12/03/2004 1:13:04 PM PST
by
gortklattu
(check out thotline dot com)
To: Chemist_Geek
Oh, thanks for telling me it was a Saturday Night Live skit. Still, I thought it was brilliant of you to post it. [grin]
170
posted on
12/03/2004 1:13:16 PM PST
by
Wolfstar
(Counting down the days to when the new White House puppy arrives.)
To: Wolfstar
So this isn't too far fetched???
171
posted on
12/03/2004 1:13:41 PM PST
by
dave k
To: Little Pig
There was actually a Japanese Anime about a robotic hospital bed that, when it's occupant expresses his dying wish to see the ocean one last time, does everything it can to make that wish come true. And at the end it tosses him in?
Shalom.
172
posted on
12/03/2004 1:14:19 PM PST
by
ArGee
(After 517, the abolition of man is complete)
To: Wolfstar
Only, in the Anime, once the bed gets out of the hospital, it runs into the Japanese Police/Defense Force/whatever and they start attacking it, thinking it has gone rogue (no one knows why it leaves the hospital until the very end), so it starts adding to itself: weapons, armor, various other upgrades. The story is touching, at the end, but the lengths the bed goes to in order to accomodate its occupant are kind of funny.
173
posted on
12/03/2004 1:14:55 PM PST
by
Little Pig
(Is it time for "Cowboys and Muslims" yet?)
To: onyx
A robot that does all the housework would be welcome. In fact, I'd go and sit on Santa's knee to beg for one of those. :) Me too! They've been promising such a thing for decades, and so far all we've gotten is that round robotic vacuum. Big disappointment. I actually wouldn't mind a robot nanny to pick up after me, remind me to pay the bills, and do all sorts of household chores. That way, I'd have more time for FR.
174
posted on
12/03/2004 1:15:38 PM PST
by
Wolfstar
(Counting down the days to when the new White House puppy arrives.)
To: Wolfstar
Hey, maybe we're just being too short sighted. The gaywad clothes might be some super-slick wwind and rainproof cloth to protect you from the elements, and the wierd shoulder, elbow, and knee pads might be Toyota's ingenious new "Personal Air Bag" system to protect you during those inevitable collisions (very important since they seem to be removing the concept of the crumple zone). I doubt it, but you never know what they were thinking...
To: ArGee
No, once it reaches the sea, the old man in it dies, and the bed simply stops right where it is. The nurse who was caring for the old man finally catches up to it (and the Japanese Army, which has been trying to stop it, with the usual results), and explains what it was trying to do for the man.
176
posted on
12/03/2004 1:16:34 PM PST
by
Little Pig
(Is it time for "Cowboys and Muslims" yet?)
To: ArGee
You know...I wouldn't mind going like that.
177
posted on
12/03/2004 1:16:55 PM PST
by
Wolfstar
(Counting down the days to when the new White House puppy arrives.)
To: Wolfstar
I actually wouldn't mind a robot nanny to pick up after me, remind me to pay the bills, and do all sorts of household chores. Since the 1950s we've seen the invention of the vacuum cleaner, the electric stove, washing machine, and microwave oven. All have been time or labor saving devices.
Now, do you feel less tired and like you have more time than before those things existed?
Shalom.
178
posted on
12/03/2004 1:17:11 PM PST
by
ArGee
(After 517, the abolition of man is complete)
To: dave k
So this isn't too far fetched???Snicker...but no. I've been waiting for something like that all my life.
179
posted on
12/03/2004 1:17:55 PM PST
by
Wolfstar
(Counting down the days to when the new White House puppy arrives.)
To: Wolfstar
You know...I wouldn't mind going like that. I might enjoy going out the way Tommy Lee Jones did in Space Cowboys. But I'm not sure I'd want to just run out of tokens for my robot.
Shalom.
180
posted on
12/03/2004 1:18:47 PM PST
by
ArGee
(After 517, the abolition of man is complete)
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