PART VII – Intelligence & Consciousness

1. How do you define intelligence? Is it possible for there to be truly intelligent machines?




2. What is consciousness? What does it mean to be a conscious being?

PART VI - THE CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF ROBOTS (PROCESSING POWER, VISION, TOUCH, SOUND AND MOVEMENT)

Take a look at the following: Katana, Artifical Hand, ZAR5, Humanoid-2, Robots, More Robots, Roboter.

Find out what the DARPA Grand Challeng is. Watch this video of the 2005 event. Watch this video of the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge.

Visit the following sites:

Use this site to learn a bit about the different aspects of robots.

Experience navigating a robot here (a simple task).


QUESTION:

Using the examples you've examined above, compare/describe the capabilities and limitations of robots and humans with respect to:


a. Vision
b. Touch
c. Sound
d. Movement
e. Processing power
f. Communication

PART V - REASONS WHY ROBOTS ARE OR ARE NOT DESIGNED AS ANDROIDS WITH HUMAN-LIKE FORM

Do they have to look like us? Why or why not? What are the connected issues?

Post your response.

Camel Jockeys

Read the following:

Child camel jockeys find hope

UAE to give child jockeys payouts

Helping Camel Jockeys


Watch the following:

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=b0aEtNH1NyY

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=iID2l6ewyj8

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=GSWygUqlGk4


Post your answers to the following questions:

1. What is a camel jockey?

2. Where are they used/where do they predominantly comes from (geographically and socially)?

3. What is the problem with this?

4. What has become the favoured solution?

5. What are the issues connected to the solution?

6. Why do you think some people are opposed to the solution?

PART III - DETERMINING SITUATIONS IN WHICH IT IS MORE APPROPRIATE TO USE A ROBOT THAN A HUMAN BEING

Post your comments for each of the following:

1 - Where/when is it more appropriate to use a robot than a human being - danger, expense, rapidity, boredom?

2 - What are the social impacts and ethical considerations regarding the use of robotics in medicine e.g. robotic surgery, computer-controlled prostheses?

                     Read this - 'Birthing robots' training medics in S. Korea

3 - Is there a social impact of human interaction with robots e.g. artificial pets, robots for the disabled and elderly?

4 - What are the social and economic effects of replacing people with robots in the workplace?

                     Read - Computer Confluence The Automated Factory pages 428-9

5 - How do we make ethical decisions regarding the use of robots in situations that might endanger human beings?

6 - How reliable are robotic devices, particularly in life-threatening situations

PART II - SENSORS

- List types of sensors and say where/why/how they might be used (in your notebook)

PART I - INTRODUCTION TO ROBOTICS

- Define: robots, androids, and cyborgs (in your notebook)


- Read Computer Confluence pages 602-604 (The Robot Revolution)

- Who first used the word "robot" and when? (in your notebook)

- What are Asimov's three laws of robotics? (in your notebook)

Can Cyborg Moths Bring Down Terrorists?
 
- Read the article and post a comment about your thoughts – what are the social/ethical issues &   implications?