There is no doubt that we are all about to step in to the world of the robot.
I don’t mean the factory line-up of car and washing machine assemblers, or the rather clever (seeming) fridges and vacuum cleaners and washer-uppers we already have with us, but real humanoids and animaloids as depicted in science fiction tales. Machines free to move-about, completely aware of their surroundings, and able to react to situations just like you and me.
The ultimate space buddy
The Japanese (of course) are experimenting with a companion to accompany space pilots to Mars and such. Presumably for someone to talk to and generally order about and scream at when the brakes fail at the wrong moment.
Someone (thing) that will act as co-pilot, repair man and maker of the tea while at the same time not needing loo breaks or rations of it’s own, or any sleep.
Me first? You first? US first
While, not to be outdone, the Americans have already on the market a robot man and a ‘dog’ designed to carry heavy loads over broken terrain.
Initially developed for military use (again of course) they are also being touted as helpers in mountain trekking and rescue work in hazardous surroundings. Etcetera and so forth.
So the human – seeming, live – among – us, type of machine exists now. And as its developers seek to regain their immense outlay, its usage will surely expand more and more – and I think very quickly – until it becomes a commonplace as a car or lawnmower.
Robot carers
I can envisage human-looking workers in care homes, tirelessly doing all the chores and much of the minding, and at the same time appearing so normal the inmates will accept them as having feelings and love just as they do dogs and cats.
And I can imagine robot dogs, in no way distinguishable from living animals, taking their owners for walks, chasing after balls and generally acting all cutesey. Without cocking their legs or running after bitches or leaving behind little packets to be gathered up.
All very beneficial no doubt.
But here’s a bit of a scary thought.
Where will it end?
Bearing in mind how much protection the law awards cats and dogs and guinea pigs and rabbits, at what point will giving our mechanical slave a hearty kick in the electronicals for some bad-tempered reason, cross over from stupid mistreatment of personal property to actual bodily harm to a sentient being?
How quickly will some smart-ass lawyer prove that moving-about, talking and reasoning robots must have the same rights under the law as you and me?
Beam me up Scottie.
Image: Mickey Giltter under CC BY 2.0
