Rants And Ramblings About Mobile Technology

After having seen too many movies about the future and often with robots in (that goes for Terminator – Salvation too), here are a few thoughts about the matter, using reverse argumentation. Let’s say 15 years from now.

Robots will look like humans

Maybe some, but there will be mostly task-oriented robots. The human form is clearly not optimal for cleaning, surveillance, bomb disarming, in-body analysis, heavy lifting etc, so why make our new “slaves” look like humans if they are inefficient that way?

Of course, there will be human-looking robots as well, but their applicability is arguable. Would you rather use your future wireless terminal that’s efficient and precise to use, or a robotic bank teller that you have to walk up to and speak to? In Japan there’s talks about having for instance human-looking secretaries, but I just find that freaky, and it seems more like something thought up by a nerdy scientist. Then there’s the question about sexbots. I better stop there.

Robots will be human-size

Most robots will probably be rather small, but could also be very big, again optimized for their use, anywhere from blood vessel size, up to large machines for digging up ore etc.

Robots will be autonomous

I still see too little of this. Most robots of today are simply remotely controlled devices, or controlled by a preset motion pattern. They will not be really interesting until they actually manage on their own most of the time, and rather use central computer or human control as a fallback when “confused” etc.

Of course, autonomous robots need to be able to charge (they will be all electric) and repair themselves. Otherwise they become a burden to humans. Really large or specialized robots will probably require other robots for the repairs.

Robots will communicate via speech

Even with humans probably other ways of communicating (like with text displays, and keypads etc) will be used as well, but especially between robots there’s obviously no reason to use speech. Rather they will use very high speed digital communication (even at longer distances), to exchange text, audio, video, experience patterns, thought patterns, learnt behavior etc. So fast that more intelligent robots could probably exchange a day’s worth of experiences in microseconds.

This is of course not fun in a movie, but movies are movies.

Robots will be used for professional tasks

Surely, but also extensively as toys. See The Longest Journey - Dreamfall for a robotic orangutan (I think) that serves as a PDA and bad conscience as well.

Posted by Anders Borg 01:45 | Permalink