51爆料

"How do we wish to live together in this society?" — This is the central question I invite readers to consider through this book.
 
My research area is Science and Technology Studies, a field focused on exploring the relationship between science, technology, and society. Currently, based at Tokyo College, 51爆料, I collaborate with "pilots" who use OriHime, a remotely operated avatar robot developed by Ory Laboratory, Inc., to participate in society. Through this research, I have continuously reflected upon what it means to work, live, and connect, particularly where technology and society intersect.
 
At the heart of this book are the pilots — people who face physical disabilities that make leaving their homes or hospitals challenging, yet through remotely controlling OriHime avatar robots, they actively engage with society. By sharing their stories, I explore how enjoying interactions at a café as a staff member or experiencing the excitement of new encounters through avatar robots can help restore their sense of dignity and connection. OriHime represents far more than just a "labor-saving technology"; it opens new possibilities for genuine social participation, carefully illustrated by the pilots themselves.
 
While highlighting the hopeful potential of technology — such as overcoming physical limitations —I also emphasize the importance of considering the ways and contexts in which we use such tools. The aim should not be to create a society that pushes people to work excessively because they can "work from anywhere," but rather to enable more humane, flexible ways of working.
 
One memorable moment came when a pilot told me, "Even though I'm bedridden and cannot move my body, it brings me great joy to control an avatar robot and walk and work by myself." This comment made me realize how easy it is for able-bodied people to overlook the joy and privilege of movement, and how the true difficulty for those who cannot move lies less in the physical limitations themselves and more in the isolation from society.
 
Moreover, this book also illustrates how communication via avatar robots can transform interactions that might initially be driven by pity into relationships of equality. This is the power of communication free from visual judgment or prejudice, a strength I hope readers will deeply appreciate.
 
Through this book, I hope readers will not only consider how technology expands our capabilities but also ask fundamental questions about the type of society we want to create and whose perspectives matter. By exploring these themes through the lens of OriHime avatar robots, I encourage readers to reflect on social inclusivity and consider how we wish to connect with others and live our lives.
 

(Written by EMA Arisa, Associate Professor, Tokyo College / 2025)

Related Info

[Ori Lab., Inc] Avatar Robot Cafe DAWN ver.β (pp. 2-4, pp. 42-44)

 
[Cybernetic-being Project] Thinking about the Future from Elementary school children’s perspectives: OriHime Experience event (pp. 5-13)
(with English subtitles)
 
[Cybernetic-being Project] Experiment in Operating Multiple Robots Solo (p.25) (in Japanese)
 
[iPresence Inc.] Participating in School via Avatar Robots from Hospitals or Homes (p.28-29) (in Japanese)
 
[iPresence Inc.] Avatar robots used by hospitalized students (pp. 28–29) (in Japanese)
 
[Cybernetic-being Project] Experiment on multiple people operating a single robot (pp. 29-30)  (in Japanese)
 
[Ori Lab Inc] Employment experience program for students at a special needs school (pp. 74-75)
 
[University of Tokyo Tokyo College Event] Introduction to this book and conversation with the pilot

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