The Honda built ASIMO

     

        I realize that the title of this blog is slightly premature in its questioning. �Or is it? �After watching all four seasons of Battlestar Galactica in the span of 5 weeks (yes at times I don't have a life), I began to wonder where the current state of robotics and artificial intelligence lies. �Therefore I did what any normal person with a laptop at his fingertips does these days: I googled for information. �What I found not only astounded me, but also made me realize that we as a society are advancing at such exponential rates when it comes to technology, that the science fiction of today literally becomes science fact within the span of merely a few years ,as opposed to maybe decades a half century earlier. �Below I briefly profile a few of the most advanced robots and computers created to date before laying out some very interesting ethical questions that we may have to face sooner rather than later.

 ASIMO
          

        The Honda built ASIMO�has been designated the most advanced humanoid robot on the planet. �Whereas earlier models had issues with balance and spatial recognition, the newest ASIMO model can run at 6 km/h (and rumoured to be programmed to run faster) while cornering, displaying near perfect human mechanics, can dance better than I (which doesn't require much skill actually), walk up and down stairs, and can be taught to recognize and differentiate between different objects. �For example, when shown a typical chair and told that the object is a chair, ASIMO stores the general shape and dimension associated with the chair in his database of "learned objects". �If then shown a three legged stool for example and asked what the object is, ASIMO will answer that it is a chair (without ever seeing the object before in its "life")!! �Furthermore, if a table is then placed in front of it and one asks ASIMO if it is a chair, he will respond that in fact no, it is not. �ASIMO displays a type of cognitive learning, whereby it determines what an object was by associating it with similar characteristics from another object, connecting A with B, much like a child does in early brain development. �Here is a video displaying ASIMO's various skills. �I find the only drawback is that it has the voice of a 10 year old boy (chosen not scare the crap out the public I gather).