Robots and the technology behind their functionality is perhaps one of the most fascinating fields of study and development today. Since the 1960's when we first began investing in artificial intelligence and began creating the first robots, there have been leaps and bounds in what robots can actually do. Today, robots are found in many manufacturing plants taking the place of humans to assemble and build a number of different items. Robots can even walk now, mimicking a walking person and the pace at which that person is walking. However, since the early days when robots were seen as eventually becoming part of every household, we have yet to create a robot that can undertake every day tasks that we humans carry out so easily. Some of these tasks range from finding a quarter in your pants pocket, to folding laundry, to simply getting a beer out of the fridge. While most of the technology is there in terms of the physical robot, the arms, fingers, torso, etc.; the biggest obstacle that remains is the perception of a robot. To date, robots have an incredibly hard time perceiving the world around them and based upon those perceptions, acting according. The software has yet to develop significantly enough to enable robots to carry out functions where their perception is needed to perform. There has been a robot created that can fold laundry, but it takes prohibitively long and that is the only main task that it can perform at this point. Even in recognition, robots are leap years away from humans. In a competition to see who could design a robot that could recognize 100 items in a supermarket, the most that a robot could recognize fell far short at 68% of 50 items or only 34 items. With the amount of items in a supermarket, we sure won't be sending the local robot to do our shopping any time soon. While improvements are being made in the software technology, it will still be many years before we have robots roaming the streets or acting as our butlers and maids.
As fascinating as the robotic field is, I am divided in my excitement. While I think it is amazing that we have robots even currently that can perform a wide variety of tasks, I question the desire to create a robot that can mimic humans. In the article linked above, it was mentioned that if we can get robots to perform more efficiently and with a greater ability to perceive their surroundings, that we could bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. My biggest question is, if we are concerned with jobs being sent over seas and bring them back home only to give them to robots, how will that effectively help our current job situation if none of the humans once employed in manufacturing jobs are re-hired when the jobs return? In part, robotic technology has a lot to do with what some would call a "God complex", or the need to create something that is on par with humans, one of the most amazing systems ever created (whether or not you believe that God created humans). If we are eventually able to create a robot that mimics humans functionality, perception, and the ability to interact seamlessly with others, what then? Why is there such a need to create a human-like entity? I would argue that we have big enough issues today dealing with individual's differences and completely understanding the human body and mind. With all the research done into unlocking the secrets of the human mind, we still do not completely understand it and often times miss the mark.
Now, I do think that if we can make a robot that can function like a basic human, i.e. do basic household chores, respond to requests; then there would be good use for them. One of the biggest areas that robots would be helpful is in the care of the elderly. It seems that even now, with everyone working more and more to keep up with bills and daily life, the care of the elderly who are not in an assisted living facility or a nursing home has been lacking. With a robot to pick up the slack around the house, it would be a great assistance to those who both have to work and have to care for an elderly individual. Yet again, this raises another question. If we have robots to do all of our household chores, how many of us would really take the extra time to spend with family and friends versus working more? In part, I would argue that it would afford us the time to work more in order to make more money. Obviously this depends in large part on a person's work ethic and attitude towards his/her family and friends. There would doubtless be some who would take the extra time not devoted to household chores and dedicate it towards family and friends, but I think that overall, the number of individuals who actually did this would be in the minority. While robots would be helpful, I personally do not think that as a whole, humans are ready for robots to be introduced en mass into the household. Yet, thinking about this last statement, technology has a way of creeping into our every day lives and while at first there may be skepticism and apprehension about affording robots somewhat equal status to humans, eventually we will come around and embrace them (as long as they don't fully replace humans). The technology itself is exciting and it is amazing to see the strides that are being made in the field of robotics. I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens next. Will we have robots performing household cleaning duties? I personally hope so because I will be one the few who take that extra time to relax and watch the robot do the work.
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