Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!swrinde!emory!cs.utk.edu!ornl!vd6.rpsd.ornl.gov!draperjv
From: draperjv@ornl.gov
Subject: Re: Father of Robotics
Message-ID: <draperjv.63.2D5F9F6E@ornl.gov>
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Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 15:57:34 GMT
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rwmurphr@essex.ecn.uoknor.edu (Robert W Murphree) writes:

>Science fiction, in some quarters not too far from the robotics
>group (try comp.ai) has become a substitute for critical thinking
>i.e "it says right here in asimov book 6 page 54 that there will
>be a galactic empire so that means it has to happen, given enough
>time."  

It may be one of the true weaknesses of our species, culture, and time
that we are more capable of vision than of critical thinking...in an old
cliche, this is expressed as our "reach exceeding our grasp," I think. I
am sometimes convinced that whole programs have been committed to
a concept  which has not been adequately scrutinized...they have been
seduced by the technology without thinking through all the implications of it.

I'm not really disturbed by this. It's probably part of the natural evolution 
of technology. What is disturbing is when _everyone_ shares the same vision, 
because then no one criticizes it. There is some "bandwagon thinking" like 
this in some parts of robotics and related fields.

>It's really hard to explain to lay people that your robot is not
>like R2D2 and won't be for a very long time.  Duplicating human
>body functions has a long and illustrious history as a part of
>engineering.  Anybody who has tried to do it knows its not always
>easy.  its a cause for awe and yes humility for us religious folk.

Have you ever noticed how many artist's conceptions of robotic devices look 
like primates of some sort? It tickles me.

The history of duplicating body functions (not just human ones, either) has a 
long history, but not necessarily illustrious. Some early attempts to design 
heavier-than-air craft featured flapping wings, for example. Actually, I think 
that duplicating biological _functions_ is OK; confounding _form_ and 
function, and duplicating biological _forms_  is what leads to trouble.

As another religious person, do you know what most awes me? Power to weight 
ratio; true for motive or computing power.

