Spring Break
Maybe R2D2 and C3PO have the right idea
Chuck Somerville
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
In the field of creating "life-like robotic companions, or social robots," David Hanson and a small group at Hanson Robotics in Texas have come far in five years and have plans to re-invent the idea of artificial intelligence.
Hanson and his workers created a 6 lb., 17-inch robot called Zeno. Zeno is a robotic head with blinking eyes capable of tracking movement and has a face portraying a wide array of emotions and expressions.
This brings the idea of a new world - a world with errand-runs void of bad attitudes and mistakes, where production will cost less and humans are not needed. This idea may seem far-fetched and straight out of a comic book or science fiction novel, but really, how long until we are shown an artificially intelligent future?
Whether it is robots overtaking the human race or Mother Nature telling us she has had enough with global warming, one thing is for sure: Something is going to happen in a world where we treat others badly, where we rape and pillage the land.
Just look at how money drives the world and how easy it is to justify bloodshed. We must ask ourselves, do we deserve what is coming to us? My opinion is yes. I feel the human race, as a whole, may need life to be taken away to remind us how precious it really is.
Look at our nation after Sept. 11, 2001. It seemed after this national disaster we were united and boosted our patriotism - American flags flying, country songs about colors that don't bleed.
Underneath this blanket of nationalism was a growing hatred fueled by ignorance. Hate crimes toward people who "resembled" the perpetrators, lies from our government and overall trust issues between everyone.
Is this human nature? In bleak times, do we hurt people who are weaker than us? Each weekend we treat our bodies as if we have many more on reserve. We are generally a mean and vindictive society that deserves what it gets.
The solution, in my opinion, would be to level the playing ground. Maybe we need a significant loss of population to help our mindset. I do know one thing: Robots would not treat the world or their lives with as many poor decisions as we have.
For the sake of my children and my children's children, I welcome this unforeseen future with open arms.
Hanson and his workers created a 6 lb., 17-inch robot called Zeno. Zeno is a robotic head with blinking eyes capable of tracking movement and has a face portraying a wide array of emotions and expressions.
This brings the idea of a new world - a world with errand-runs void of bad attitudes and mistakes, where production will cost less and humans are not needed. This idea may seem far-fetched and straight out of a comic book or science fiction novel, but really, how long until we are shown an artificially intelligent future?
Whether it is robots overtaking the human race or Mother Nature telling us she has had enough with global warming, one thing is for sure: Something is going to happen in a world where we treat others badly, where we rape and pillage the land.
Just look at how money drives the world and how easy it is to justify bloodshed. We must ask ourselves, do we deserve what is coming to us? My opinion is yes. I feel the human race, as a whole, may need life to be taken away to remind us how precious it really is.
Look at our nation after Sept. 11, 2001. It seemed after this national disaster we were united and boosted our patriotism - American flags flying, country songs about colors that don't bleed.
Underneath this blanket of nationalism was a growing hatred fueled by ignorance. Hate crimes toward people who "resembled" the perpetrators, lies from our government and overall trust issues between everyone.
Is this human nature? In bleak times, do we hurt people who are weaker than us? Each weekend we treat our bodies as if we have many more on reserve. We are generally a mean and vindictive society that deserves what it gets.
The solution, in my opinion, would be to level the playing ground. Maybe we need a significant loss of population to help our mindset. I do know one thing: Robots would not treat the world or their lives with as many poor decisions as we have.
For the sake of my children and my children's children, I welcome this unforeseen future with open arms.
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