Comments on Drops In the Bucket . . .: The Future of Robotics

I agree shellz. It would seem to me that modeling ...

2008-06-23T23:35:00.000-07:00

I agree shellz. It would seem to me that modeling a human brain successfully enough that a robot could attain awareness is nothing more than a technological challenge. It's simply a question of complexity, and will undoubtedly be overcome with time and technological advancement. Afterall the brain is a biological computer, yes? It's organic, but it's basic processes are the same. Information travels from one part to another in the form of electrical signals as you pointed out, and trigger some response, just like a computer. We've already achieved the same basic processes with inorganic materials, so why anyone would assume that such a feat was just impossible I don't understand.

The only thing that could sidetrack our efforts, would be divine interference, and of course then everything goes out the window anyway. It doesn't necessarily make the task impossible, but it heightens the chances that there would be some unknown and incomprehensible factor that could not be overcome.

Now that I think about it, such research would seem to have applications in brain reconstruction for people who have suffered brain trauma like alzheimer's or a physical brain injury.

The point is, this goal should definitely be pursued whether it is ultimately possible or not as it will probably yield very substantial breakthroughs along the way. Maybe this will even lead to immortality someday when we can upload our minds into a robot and shed our dependence on food, air, water, gravity, etc.. It would enable long space voyages and dramatically increase the number of potential homeworlds or do away with the need altogether. Who knows, maybe it could even make us all as smart as vince...well, alright...thats asking a little much.

Yeah, I looked it up after I posted. I had no idea...

2008-06-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I looked it up after I posted. I had no idea it was based on an Asimov book.

Interestingly enough, if you look up Bicentennial ...

2008-06-01T17:26:00.000-07:00

Interestingly enough, if you look up Bicentennial Man, the idea for it comes from Isaac Asimov. *smiles*

Here's a couple of ideas for us to think about.Rob...

2008-06-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of ideas for us to think about.

Robots are made to enrich and free up humans from dangerous and menial jobs such as welding and bomb detection. But if we invent more capable robots and they take over jobs such as maintenance workers and painters, what role will humans have in society? Will we get lazier and lazier as we watch robots mowing the lawn (and that's already a reality)?

How advanced do we want our robots? Do we want them to be doctors and nurses? Policemen and soldiers? Trash men and car repairmen?

I see a lot of promise in robotics, but I also see risk. We need to find a balance of self awareness and subservience to accomplish our goals of advancing our society, but treating our creations with respect.

Another movie dealing with the issues of robots was Bicentennial Man with Robin Williams. A man creates a robot advanced enough that, after serving the family, seeks to advance himself in becoming more human. The film follows his quest during the different stages of him becoming human.

I respectfully disagree Sir Vincent. Our brains a...

2008-06-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

I respectfully disagree Sir Vincent. Our brains are complex certainly, but they are something that have evolved through time. Robots too will evolve with our help, and I do not think it is only science fiction. At one point, the personal computer was science fiction and nobody thought that we could ever have such computational abilities at our fingertips, and just look at what we have now. We are a mass of complicated electric signals that I know science will be able to merge with robotics. Why, after I wrote this blog, I read about a monkey that was controlling a robotic arm with his mind. They placed small filaments into the motor function part of the brain, and secured his real hands behind his body, and after practicing, was able to control the arm with his brain. If we can start to understand these connections, and merge all of these into one being such as a robot, I have no doubt that they will be as sentient as we are, with all the attendant emotions.

While the field of robotics and automation is fasc...

2008-05-31T13:40:00.000-07:00

While the field of robotics and automation is fascinating, it isn't anywhere as exotic as sci-fi writers make it.

The human brain is far too complex to be replicated enough to create an independent existence. There is no way a robot, no matter how complex, could ever "appreciate" the beauty of a sunset or the smell of soil after the first rain or the waves crashing on a rocky beach. It can only generate a data file even if it had all the sensors to experience.

Ultimately, the robots will only amount to doing tasks that humans either cannot do or don't want to do. Some others will be toys. In this way, we already have robots like automatic elevators that takes us up and down or welding robots that weld cars precisely.

It is very highly unlikely if not impossible to have greedy robots, selfish robots, egotistical robots, showoff robots, short-tempered robots, whiny robots or needy robots. It will remain an exclusive domain of we humans.

Until then, sci-fi writers can write about a robot who cries when the master is dead or who says "god damnit" when its foot hits a table leg accidentally. Such surrealism vis à vis robots is actually good because it makes us aware of how special yet flawed we humans are!

True, for that respect. Quoting Descartes, 'cogito...

2008-05-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

True, for that respect. Quoting Descartes, 'cogito, ergo sum', 'I think, therefore I am'. Then, if androids existed that/who were able to think about their own existence, it would be as unethical to use them than to use human slaves. Fascinating new philosophical topic indeed.

But that is at the crux of the problem, Billy. If...

2008-05-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

But that is at the crux of the problem, Billy. If robots can feel and think, who are we to say that in their self-awareness they should work for us?

Asimov, of course, his Robot series is rightly fam...

2008-05-30T13:08:00.000-07:00

Asimov, of course, his Robot series is rightly famous. Also, Philip K. Dick! 'Do Androids dream of electic sheeps' is among the best S.F. novels I've ever read. It deals with the ethics of Robots, Androids especially, in a very moving way. I you haven't read it yet, don't hesitate. Riddley Scott's 'Blade Runner' was an good film adaptation of the novel. I prefer the book though.

As for the main topic of your blog, I am not that enthousiastic... For sure, it's interesting. It's good thing people do research on touch, a sense we know little about.

Yet the very idea of husband and wife who need a intermediary pet to know how the other one feels frightened me... if the society we live in evolves in that direction, we should not work at inventing such pets, but at changing the society we live in!

Hopefully, when you are a doctor in cybernetics yourself *wink wink*, you'll rather do research about how robots can help people to work less, so that they can spend more time with their beloved ones.

Oh wow. First, thanks for visiting my page, and s...

2008-05-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

Oh wow. First, thanks for visiting my page, and secondly, yay for loving Asimov. I don't think the androids of Asimov's will take much longer to create. At least in this century.

If Hansons or anybody could make a humaniform robo...

2008-05-30T01:32:00.000-07:00

If Hansons or anybody could make a humaniform robot as gorgeous as Daneel Olivaw (from Isaac Asimov's Robot series) I would die happy! (After having my enjoyment with said robot, of course).