Posted on 10/24/2006 12:48:26 PM PDT by Dark Skies
The public must prepare for a technological "revolution" which could soon see robots occupying every area of human life, from space explorers to gardeners and lovers, scientists said today.
Researchers said concern about the possibilities of robotic technology was "whipped up" by science fiction, and it was important for people to know what part robots might play in our future.
The scientists were speaking at the Institution of Engineering and Technology in London, where they - along with their robotic companions - were launching a nationwide programme, Walking with Robots.
The scheme, involving eight UK universities, aims to get people of all ages to engage with cutting edge robotics research.
Roboticist Professor Noel Sharkey from the University of Sheffield said: "Robots are coming thick and fast with robot domestics, gardeners, cooks, companions, lovers, taxis, factory workers, space explorers, soldiers, maybe police and certainly pets.
"Public concern about these new metal 'friends' is whipped up by science fiction, but what are the facts? Will these robots think? Will they have emotions? Will they be mentally superior to us? Could my boss be a robot? Will they take over the planet and write interesting sitcoms?
"The public need to be prepared for the revolution."
Another of the researchers, Professor Owen Holland from the University of Essex, said: "Although robotics has not yet progressed as fast and as far as the special effects you see in science fiction films, it is already clear that robots may one day play a big part in our lives.
"We believe it is important for the general public to know what is possible now, and what might be possible in the future.
"The best way of achieving this is for them to meet roboticists and robots, to see and hear for themselves what we're working on, to ask questions - especially the ones we don't always ask ourselves - and then to let us know what they think."
Activities in the programme will include the Young People's Task Force, a select committee of students who will examine emergent issues in robotics, and Hunter and Hunted, a robot programming contest.
Blade Runner is another classic!
Wow... Great sex without having to put up with WOMEN...
Where do I sign?
Worst Styx song EVER.
LOL, Ski!
I wanna know what happens when robots overdose on Metamucil.
Do androids dream of electric sheep?
Where do I sign?
Just email mark.foley@house.gov
Uh oh. Just look out of the Shover Robot and the Pusher Robot. I mean, they are here to protect you from the terrible secret of space: http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/33440
For a computer to go at the speeds required to replicate human intellect, it would have to go down the to sub atomic level and use quantum mechanics (or something like that)...
I don`t think that is particularly true though because as we have seen, the intelligence of an amoeba is all that is required to not only equal some people, but to also represent those people who elect them for the Senate.
"Hellooooo!"
"Helloooo!"
"Helloooooo!"
"Hello! Nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk!"
Article of the day, heh!
So, how much for a good cherry 2000?
Would most wives consider that inapropriate?
You'd think so, wouldn't you, but I think it's likely that one of the first of the humanoid robots will be some sort of sex toy. You think people won't have sex with machines? They already are, and on a very wide basis.
"ok, I might could handle a robot gardener, but a robot lover? Get real! That's just plain silly."
Ever seen a torpedo shaped battery operated "vibrator". And remember the gigilo robot from the movie AI? It WILL be a reality, just as x-rated movies were the biggest "pre-recorded" movie draw of VCR's.
Where do I sign?
OUTSIDE the locked door of our nookie nook.
"Wow... Great sex without having to put up with WOMEN...
Where do I sign?
"
First, you need a ticket to San Francisco. The rest will take care of itself. Don't like women? Hmm....
too late, sex droids are a reality...
I saw a show on how they were using lifelike manequins (sp?) and having them do...well you know.
The guy doing this also was setting up a sex-bot network. People could use the net to simulate sex, using to bot to accomplish their task. Like a video game, in a strange way...
The dude has backing as everyone knows its a win-win industry. The Women on the show could ...er, adjust the dimensions of the manequin depending on their mood. A guy in Tokyo could be ..er, um...use a woman's bot in Osaka via the net to uh, you know. and vice versa...
It's uh, sloppy and not well done right now, but the tech will improve.
In the next few decades Japanese Sim-sex manequins and network access will sell better than crack.....
That would mean there is such a thing as a good Styx song
ouch.
B, I'm siccin' you on sticker. He ain't right in the head.
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