Dear Fellow Engineers,
A new technological revolution will soon dawn upon us. What is at the head of all of the attention? Robots. Robots can do many things: They can break and they can fix, they can steal and they can replace, they can love and they can hate. Recently, with new developments in technology, it seems that robots are being built to contain emotions. Robots are becoming human-like, intelligent and free-learning, so much that humans may begin to fear a robot apocalypse. However, I do not believe that it is necessary to fear robots and the improvements that are being made to them. In fact, as a fellow engineer I encourage you to join the robot movement. Robots may be able to help the human race in many ways. In the near and distant future, robots will become more and more relevant in our everyday lives. Robots will help workers produce more with a lower cost and shortened time of creation and they will help people in their personal lives to live happier, healthier lives. Robots will not harm the human race, instead, they will greatly help us.
There are three main categories in which robots have influence in human life: work life, personal life, and intimate life. The most concerning aspect is work life. Many people are worried that robots are taking control of human jobs and creating unemployment. Although in some cases this may be true, robots are actually beginning to help humans develop product quicker, cheaper, and with greater ease. For example, robots are used in manufacturing plants in order to speed up the process of the creation of goods such as cars, appliances, weaponry, etc. According to Cynthia Breazeal, a co-writer and researcher to Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences, "Modern robots are beginning to participate as members of heterogenous teams that cooperate with people in order to achieve shared goals" (Breazeal 3528). Robots are able to perform in teams that work alongside humans in order to achieve maximum proficiency. In the cases where robots are potentially taking human jobs, most people consider car manufacturers who use robots for heavy machinery. Most people don’t realize that robots are also being used to help keep humans out of harms way. Miguel Valez, a University of St. Thomas robots expert, argues that “Robots controlled by humans have also been used to perform dangerous tasks such as exploring dangerous areas or deactivating bombs" (Valez 2). Robots aren’t harming people, they are helping people to accomplish difficult and dangerous jobs without risking their lives. In the workplace, some jobs may be able to be replaced by robots, but in reality, robots are developed to help humans complete their jobs in the most efficient way possible.
Not only can robots help people with their work endeavours, but they can also help people in their personal lives as well. Many people still have issues interacting with others. This causes depression, stress, fatigue, you name it. Robots are here to help. They may not look exactly like humans, they may have L.E.D screens and pivoting/rotational mechanical elbows and motherboards that are never seen by the people interacting with them, but robots have the potential to help people become more comfortable with their social lives. "Socially intelligent robots could have a significantly positive effect on real world challenges, such as helping elders to live independently at home longer, serving as learning companions for children and enriching learning experiences through play, serving a therapeutic role to help children with autism learn communication skills..." (Breazeal 3528), says Cynthia Breazeal. Many people struggle with some aspect of the social game throughout their life. Whether the struggle involves making new friends, keeping old ones, or having the courage to go ask out that pretty girl or handsome guy across the room that you know is way out of your league; robots can help you to gain confidence, make a new friend, and learn how to interact in all of those situations that you never thought you could. Robots are able to do all of these things because they incorporate social skills in their programming, but it is much easier and less nerve racking to have a conservation with a machine than it is to have a conversation with your dream girl or dream guy. Although some people frown upon the idea of robots used for intimacy, some people just don’t have the flirting skills or the confidence to have a human companion. For others, their busy days don’t allow them the ability to spend time on a significant other. These are the people who turn to robotics for stimulation. Valez argues that “humans want attention and contact with other human beings. If there are robots that can simulate those features realistically enough, it is not surprising to me that some would replace human contact, even sexual relations, with robot contact, in order to satisfy that need" (Valez 6). If robots have the ability to increase someone’s happiness, take some stress out of their lives, and make humans feel better, why is there any need to stop them?
Whether it is our personal, intimate, or work lives, robots have the capability to help improve every aspect of human life if we work to create more improved robotics. The issue of robots versus humans is already significant and will continue to grow every day that technology grows as well. Be a part of this revolution and inform yourselves of this so called ‘issue’. Spread the word, do your own research, learn the ins and outs of robotics, and you may just be interested in climbing aboard and making a difference for the future of the human race.
Sincerely,
Jake Glatting
Sources Cited
Velez, Miguel (2015). Current and Future Relationships Between Humans and Robots. 1-9. University of St. Thomas.
Breazeal, Cynthia (2009). Role of Expressive Behaviour for Robots That Learn from People. Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences Vol. 364, 3527-3538.
No comments:
Post a Comment