Industrialization
has changed American society. From the invention of the printing
press to Henry Ford's assembly line technique, mass production
increased the availability of goods, art, and knowledge to the middle
class. As a result, society began to rely more on technology. Robots are currently developed all over the world to perform a variety of beneficial functions.
Professor
Kusahara's lecture on Japanese robotics demonstrated the cultural
differences between Japan and the United States, specifically, the
way the robots are perceived. In Japan, robots are often small and
made in the form of children, so that people won't be afraid of them.
In contrast, some Americans view robots as scary and a threat to human
intelligence. The Transformers movies provide an example of
how robots are a part of Western culture. It also shows that while
technology has the potential to hurt us, it can also help us.
 |
| Optimus Prime, one of the many robots from the Transformers movies. |
Art
and robotics are integrated with the creation of realistic-looking
robots. Engineers are able to use art in their work to make the
robots appear less like objects and more like humans. Similarly,
David Hanson's Ted talk shows how robots are now able to mimic how
humans are feeling. The goal is for robots to eventually empathize
with humans. If scientists are able to achieve this, I believe that
people will not feel threatened by robots and will see them as useful to society.
The video above features an android developed by Hiroshi Ishiguro. It is able to mimic the facial expressions of humans!
Humanity
has greatly benefitted from the use of robotics. Modern robots are
able to vacuum floors, take care of elderly people, and help rescue
survivors of a disaster. According to the German philosopher Walter
Benjamin, “Technical reproduction can put the copy of the original
into situations which would be out of reach for the original itself”
(Benjamin, 1936). Advancements in robotics allow disabled people to
experience things that they aren't able to do on their own. For
example, an art museum in San Francisco currently has two robots that
can be accessed by people unable to attend the site in person. In the video below, a quadriplegic man is able to take a tour of the museum
by controlling the robot from his home.
I
believe that robotics can continue to benefit society, and as long as
we don't rely on them to completely replace the jobs that humans do,
we shouldn't worry about robots taking over the world in a
negative way.
Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." (1936). Desma 9. Web. 18 Apr. 2015.
<https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/346337/pages/unit-3-agenda?module_item_id=6472143>.
<https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/346337/pages/unit-3-agenda?module_item_id=6472143>.
"The Creepiest, Most Realistic Robot Ever." Fox News. FOX News Network, 07 Mar. 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2011/03/07/creepiest-realistic-robot/>.
Hanson, David. "Robots that "show emotion". TED, Feb. 2009. Web. 18
Apr. 2015. <http://www.ted.com/talks/david_hanson_robots_that_relate_to_you>
Kusahara, Machiko. "Professor Machiko Kusahara on Japanese Robotics." Desma 9. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/346337/pages/unit-3-view?module_item_id=6472144>.
Motes, Jason. "Optimus Prime Got A Makeover For ‘Transformers: Age Of Extinction’." ScienceFictioncom RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <http://sciencefiction.com/2013/11/26/optimus-prime-got-makeover-transformers-age-extinction/>.
"Robots Open up the World of Art." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 1 Mar. 2015. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/robots-open-up-the-world-of-art/>.
Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics + Art Lecture." Desma 9. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/346337/pages/unit-3-view?module_item_id=6472144>.
I think you have good points supporting the benefits of robotics and how using this new technology can help our society. It is true that robots, like the Mars Rover, can help us explore new and potentially dangerous places while others can help us get to where we need to be, such as the robots that are helping sick students stay at home while still staying on track at school. However, I do think that there is a really strong fear of what robots could become. Maybe people are afraid of the idea of this technology because of the rapid "humanization" of robots that you mention in your post, and they are afraid that the line between humanity and technology will become too blurred to be recognizable anymore. I am all for technological advances, but I have to admit that, compared to more "traditional" looking robots such as WALL-E and R2-D2, robots that look more human like the ones Dr. Kusahara mentioned in her lecture hit a little too close to home for me!
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ReplyDeleteI really like your focus on all of the good things robots can do! From assisting people with disabilities to assisting survivors of an attack, the good side is rarely heard about. While I definitely understand where many peoples' fears are coming from, and we really have no idea what the future will ultimately hold in terms of new technology and advances in robotics, I think what people really fear is the unknown. This is not the first time that people have feared advances in technology, nor will it be the last. I especially feel that due to the ease at which people are able to communicate today, it allows for the spread of good ideas which moves society along at a faster pace, but it also allows for the speedy promulgation of false and/or not fully proven ideas. Since fear is the easiest human emotion to capitalize on and spread, I worry more about people's negative reactions to new technology and advances in robotics in the coming years as opposed to the actual negative effects of robots on society.
ReplyDeleteHi Elena,
ReplyDeleteI think it's really interesting that we have to push for people not to be afraid of robots, considering how prevalent robots are in our day to day life and how much control we have over them. You make some really good points on how robots are able to help us, but I doubt people afraid of robots would see that as comforting. I guess what people fear would be artificial intelligence eventually becoming smarter than humans, which is quite a scary prospect - and one that may even occur within our lifetimes.