Samantha Salamat
Professor David Fulton
Eng 120
21 October 2013
Roles that Robots Fulfills
Robots are created to help humans have an easier life but, are we sure that robots do really help us, humans have that easy life? What is really the role of robots in our society today? One role that robots fulfill is helping us enhance our lives. Second role is how humans interaction to robots gives us companionship. Lastly, are robots a disadvantage or an advantage to humanity? This essay will discuss about the roles of robots in the society and whether having machines like them would be good or bad for the humanity.
One role that robots fulfill for us humans is the help they offer to help us enhance our lives. For example, some robots are made to do the chores in our houses. In fact, a robot named Domo was created by the Engineers at MIT Humanoid Robotics Group. And, Aaron Edsinger, who is an engineer at MIT Humanoid Robotics Group said that, "The motivation (to create the robot) is to assist people with everyday chores, everyday life, everyday work". Not only that, a research team that includes engineers and students from Rochester Institute of Technology mentioned that robots is the answer to help the people with disabilities. People who has disabilities will be given a second chance to live a normal life again.
Second role that robots fulfills for us is the interaction we have with them that can lead to companionship. Sherry Turkle, a professor of the social studies of science and technology at MIT studied people's feelings and thoughts towards robots, she found out that the love and friendship does not only occur to humans but now, robots are able to fill that roles too. Indeed, Turke studied a robotic baby seal named Paro, that is used as companion to people with depression and she concluded that "It was widely seen as a great advance, when one grief-stricken woman was able to talk to Paro and be comforted by it.".
Lastly, are robots a disadvantage or an advantage to humanity? Like humans, robots are not perfect. That is why I believe that robots has its disadvantages and advantages. Robots are made to help us, but when we rely to them too much it becomes a disadvantage. "Step back and reconsider how and when we want to let machines into our lives, and when we should turn them off." (Turke 1). We should set a limitation when it comes to relying on the robots. On the other hand, it also has its advantages. "Many experts say in the future, robots could be better caretakers for the elderly, because they could be programmed with endless patience, and would never be abusive, inept or dishonest." (Moskowitz 1). Who would not want a robot that has endless patience? It would be a big help to us humans if robots are programmed like that because they can also become teachers in the future. Therefore, we should know our limitations when it comes to relying on the robots because we could turn that advantage to a disadvantage.
Given these points, I conclude that robots does have a disadvantage and advantage, And that, robots would be a big help for us humans. One reason, is because it enhances our lives by helping us doing our daily chores. Second reason, is the companionship the robots offer to us. Lastly, our mind set should not be narrow when it comes to robots because robots are not perfect like us humans and it also has its negative side.
Clara Moskowitz. "Human- Robot Relations: Why We Should Worry." LiveScience, 18 Feb. 2013. Web. 21 Oct. 2013
Massachussets Institute of Technology. "Robots: The Next Generation." ScienceDaily,1 Aug. 2007. Web. 21 Oct. 2013
Rochester Institute of Technology. "Robotics Research: Enhancing The Lives Of People With Disabilities." ScienceDaily, 9 Aug. 2008. Web. 21 Oct. 2013
Professor David Fulton
Eng 120
21 October 2013
Roles that Robots Fulfills
Robots are created to help humans have an easier life but, are we sure that robots do really help us, humans have that easy life? What is really the role of robots in our society today? One role that robots fulfill is helping us enhance our lives. Second role is how humans interaction to robots gives us companionship. Lastly, are robots a disadvantage or an advantage to humanity? This essay will discuss about the roles of robots in the society and whether having machines like them would be good or bad for the humanity.
One role that robots fulfill for us humans is the help they offer to help us enhance our lives. For example, some robots are made to do the chores in our houses. In fact, a robot named Domo was created by the Engineers at MIT Humanoid Robotics Group. And, Aaron Edsinger, who is an engineer at MIT Humanoid Robotics Group said that, "The motivation (to create the robot) is to assist people with everyday chores, everyday life, everyday work". Not only that, a research team that includes engineers and students from Rochester Institute of Technology mentioned that robots is the answer to help the people with disabilities. People who has disabilities will be given a second chance to live a normal life again.
Second role that robots fulfills for us is the interaction we have with them that can lead to companionship. Sherry Turkle, a professor of the social studies of science and technology at MIT studied people's feelings and thoughts towards robots, she found out that the love and friendship does not only occur to humans but now, robots are able to fill that roles too. Indeed, Turke studied a robotic baby seal named Paro, that is used as companion to people with depression and she concluded that "It was widely seen as a great advance, when one grief-stricken woman was able to talk to Paro and be comforted by it.".
Lastly, are robots a disadvantage or an advantage to humanity? Like humans, robots are not perfect. That is why I believe that robots has its disadvantages and advantages. Robots are made to help us, but when we rely to them too much it becomes a disadvantage. "Step back and reconsider how and when we want to let machines into our lives, and when we should turn them off." (Turke 1). We should set a limitation when it comes to relying on the robots. On the other hand, it also has its advantages. "Many experts say in the future, robots could be better caretakers for the elderly, because they could be programmed with endless patience, and would never be abusive, inept or dishonest." (Moskowitz 1). Who would not want a robot that has endless patience? It would be a big help to us humans if robots are programmed like that because they can also become teachers in the future. Therefore, we should know our limitations when it comes to relying on the robots because we could turn that advantage to a disadvantage.
Given these points, I conclude that robots does have a disadvantage and advantage, And that, robots would be a big help for us humans. One reason, is because it enhances our lives by helping us doing our daily chores. Second reason, is the companionship the robots offer to us. Lastly, our mind set should not be narrow when it comes to robots because robots are not perfect like us humans and it also has its negative side.
Clara Moskowitz. "Human- Robot Relations: Why We Should Worry." LiveScience, 18 Feb. 2013. Web. 21 Oct. 2013
Massachussets Institute of Technology. "Robots: The Next Generation." ScienceDaily,1 Aug. 2007. Web. 21 Oct. 2013
Rochester Institute of Technology. "Robotics Research: Enhancing The Lives Of People With Disabilities." ScienceDaily, 9 Aug. 2008. Web. 21 Oct. 2013