LIB 102
Journal Entry Week 4
LIB 102: Human Questions
I would suppose for me, my science-related fear would be robots taking over, taking
over more than they already have. All one must do is to wander into any factory or hospital
environment to see how much robotics are used in lieu of humans, and how many human jobs
have gone the wayside because robots “cost less” than humans do. If you choose to look at it
from a “taking over” perspective, simply find the movie, I-Robot to see what potential outcome
could occur.
Robots, could, in essence, the more we program them to work, behave, and simulate
human behavior and responses, could become more humanoid and turn on their human
counterparts. It is what happened with Victor’s creation of Frankenstein; Victor was so
enamored with creation that he created a monster. Victor thought his creation would be harmless
and failed to consider the long-term consequences and effects of his creation of a monster. In the
end, because of Victor neglecting the monster, Frankenstein ended up harming those he cared
about. It is not the thought of robots destroying humankind that scares me, it is the thought and
knowing that we humans are creating robots to take over jobs that are already taking jobs away
from our own human counterparts. Other prime examples of these takeovers are automated
customer service, grocery store self-checkout lines, automated refill pharmacies, and automated
carwashes. There will come a day, and it is already being tested, that robotics can take over the
battlefield.
My family and I have often sat and chatted over discussions about Jetson-esque
lifestyles and whether they would or could ever come to fruition. Could it be possible for robots
to teach students? Could robots clean homes – there are already iRobot vacuum cleaners, so it
isn’t too far of a stretch. What about robot nannies caring for children? We have discussed the
Journal Entry Week 4
LIB 102: Human Questions
I would suppose for me, my science-related fear would be robots taking over, taking
over more than they already have. All one must do is to wander into any factory or hospital
environment to see how much robotics are used in lieu of humans, and how many human jobs
have gone the wayside because robots “cost less” than humans do. If you choose to look at it
from a “taking over” perspective, simply find the movie, I-Robot to see what potential outcome
could occur.
Robots, could, in essence, the more we program them to work, behave, and simulate
human behavior and responses, could become more humanoid and turn on their human
counterparts. It is what happened with Victor’s creation of Frankenstein; Victor was so
enamored with creation that he created a monster. Victor thought his creation would be harmless
and failed to consider the long-term consequences and effects of his creation of a monster. In the
end, because of Victor neglecting the monster, Frankenstein ended up harming those he cared
about. It is not the thought of robots destroying humankind that scares me, it is the thought and
knowing that we humans are creating robots to take over jobs that are already taking jobs away
from our own human counterparts. Other prime examples of these takeovers are automated
customer service, grocery store self-checkout lines, automated refill pharmacies, and automated
carwashes. There will come a day, and it is already being tested, that robotics can take over the
battlefield.
My family and I have often sat and chatted over discussions about Jetson-esque
lifestyles and whether they would or could ever come to fruition. Could it be possible for robots
to teach students? Could robots clean homes – there are already iRobot vacuum cleaners, so it
isn’t too far of a stretch. What about robot nannies caring for children? We have discussed the
