::follow-up:: The elderly will become the first logical target in a robot takeover

September 9th, 2009 :: 0 Comments

Hopefully you’ve already read the original post. More information has been found, and it really proves that personal robot helpers at home an in hospitals is a poor choice.

“For the first time, robots are safe enough and inexpensive enough to do meaningful work in a residential environment,” said Rod Grupen, a computer scientist at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst.

Robots really aren’t safe, they just aren’t sophisticated enough to cause trouble yet. Having these early generation robots accepted by the public means that more advanced robots will be well received. Those are the robots we need to worry about.

To stay on topic, these robots are being researched at the University of Massachusetts. Their robot is called uBot-5, and it is far less ambitious than what is being researched at the University of Illinois Chicago. They have a similar goal though; to replace at home caregivers and to help at hospitals. It is also designed to perform more mediocre tasks along with creepy family interaction:

Aside from its life-saving abilities, uBOT-5 can also remind people to take their medication, pick up packages and do some cleaning and shopping. It can even administer virtual house calls from doctors using a Web cam, microphone, touch-sensitive LCD screen and Internet connection — tools that Grupen said clients should find other uses for.

“Grandma can take the robot’s hand, lead it out into the garden and have a virtual visit with a grandchild who is living on the opposite coast,” Grupen said.

How many grandmother’s would take a robot’s hand to go outside and have a conversation with a robot pretending to be their grandchildren? If a robot wants to take your hand, take you somewhere and promises great things, like a virtual visit from a family member or delicious candy, please decline.

Here is what science wants you to put in your home: