Skip to main content

Collective Intelligence: Human Centered Design, Teaching & Learning with Machines


Photo by  Erik Möller 
The relation between humans and robots relates to the dystopia and utopia of how robots have been represented and our thoughts surrounding this case. Robots are anthropomorphic in a sense, depending on their use. The idea of robots being beneficial in the work place was first sourced around 320 BC. It was then brought into reality years later by Leonardo da Vinci in 1496, plans and sketches were made for a robot. These plans included mechanical automation that could allow movement. Due to the plans and drawings being in a human like form, this has been an early step into why we portray robots in the way that we do today. 

An idea by philosopher Aristotle proves we have a difficult relationship towards robots. He states; "If every tool, when ordered, or even of its own accord, could do the work that befits it… then there would be no need either of apprentices for the master workers or of slaves for the lords.”. Saying the creation of machine than can complete tasks for would be better than needing a human to do it. This maybe the first motive behind the production of robot’s due to the notion of timesaving and convenience.

The portrayal of robots is commonly negative, with destructive connotations. We can begin to understand why, by looking into the history of robots and the commerciality of them. Starting in 1972, Metropolis was released, this film was a fetishisation of technology, a robot was built as a pure sign of affection. 5 years later, Japan released its first toy robot, ‘Lilliput 5357’, aimed for younger audiences, it was to be seen as a form of companionship. Now in 2018, we are still treating robots in the same way, yet still scared to progress into the future with them.

Artificial Intelligence is the next step of the future, machines learning from human input. Self-driving cars are a good example of the potential AI can have, but they’re known as dangerous. Why is that? The possibilities we are opened to when we combine artificial intelligence with machine learning are almost endless, many of which are done to protect our safety even more so. There are now new ways to predict and safeguard natural disasters, such as earthquakes by creating simulations to 'practice' possible situations. So while AI is being used for our safety people still don't want to live together with digital systems. Sophia is the worlds first ever robot with a citizenship which was granted in Saudi Arabia. This got a mixed response and a lot of people are 'worried' for the future of humanity. The thing is, people don't feel the same way when embracing the life saving technology that can help us. 

 A MIT Technology Review about Waymo cars claims they’re intelligent machines. They’re put through a series of simulations to learn how to follow routes and avoid obstacles. Making this possibly the most tested mode of transport to date. It allows us to reduce human error by using machine learning in conjunction with simulation yet whilst some lust over robots, others can’t trust.

Along with the development of Artificial Intelligence, the ethical consequences are something to always bear in mind. Left is an image displaying the timeline of occurrences of ethical issues of AI in last year. A good example being; when art produced AI and gets sold, who gets the money for it? Not all of these examples have been portrayed in the media, yet are crucial towards our understanding in the future collision of AI and us living in harmony.

If we can ever learn to embrace robots, to live and learn with them, I feel it would have positive impacts on us in the future. Factory robots have been critical to the revolution and human-free manufacturing is something we’ve been familiar with for years; however, people aren’t as willing to share that enthusiasm when AI is concerned.

 Hao, K. (2018). Establishing an AI code of ethics will be harder than people think. [Blog] MIT Technology Review. Available at: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612318/establishing-an-ai-code-of-ethics-will-be-harder-than-people-think/ [Accessed 12 Dec. 2018].

 Photo by Erik Möller - Leonardo da Vinci. Mensch - Erfinder - Genie exhibit, Berlin 2005. 

 Robotics, R. (2018). 18 Defining Moments In The History of Robotics. [Blog] Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@ReachRobotics/18-defining-moments-in-the-history-of-robotics-761de7a2fbba [Accessed 11 Dec. 2018].

 Simonite, T. (2017). Intelligent Machines AI Software Learns to Make AI Software. [Blog] MIT Technology Review. Available at: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603381/ai-software-learns-to-make-ai-software/?fbclid=IwAR3RZVc1VM5yyf5D1zdD_VyIl3TZBw-S41CMtrVFG5OztX8YbFjLShng46o [Accessed 11 Dec. 2018].

 The Jakarta Post (2017). Meet Sophia: The first robot declared a citizen by Saudi Arabia. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8Ox6H64yu8 [Accessed 13 Dec. 2018].



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Concept 3 - Tea Pot

The concept is for a new technological device called 'TeaPot'. It is a smart kettle which can be paired with this app, designed to make life at home simpler.  This is aimed at busy families or single parents. People who will be looking to save time and money.  The app can do this by saving energy, it displays how much water is inside, meaning you only boiling how much water the user needs. It also displays the temperature of the water, indicating when the water is ready to be poured into your hot drink.  The app, which can be downloaded on both the app store and android store, can help day to day lives in a number of ways: Set timers Shows temperature                                        Visualise water level          Boils kettle remotely Notifies when water is boiled.  Although this gadget isn't a necessity, it certainly...
Post a Comment
Read more

Industry 4.0

The 'Industrial Revolution' is a term we have all heard before, but what about 'Industry 4.0'? The evolution of technologies has been a steady process since the 18th century and there are 4 main stages of the industrial revolution, and we are now in the 4th, this is where the term 'Industry 4.0' comes from. "The evolution of technology from the most recent industrial age to the technology era" (T,A, 2018). Telukdarie points out that in the height of new technologies we are still finding it hard to fully determine what it actually means to be part of the next stage of the industrial revolution therefore stating it is an evolution, a process that is still happening.  Gilchrist shares a similar theory towards 'Industry 4.0' as Telukarie. He suggests that the idea of it isn't actually that new, "Industry 4.0, like so many new technologies in the Century, is not a new concept; it is more a rebirth of an older concept...
Post a Comment
Read more

Smart Everything: Machine Sensing & Awareness

In general, each individual device gives a small amount of data but the important thing to remember is how many people have the same devices due to trends in the market which gives big data. This is why the internet of things is so influential, as it can give a whole mass of data. As humans, it is in everyone’s day to day routine to give out some form of data because we all travel, communicate and spend money throughout the day. “T he estimated number of connected ‘things’ was 1.8 billion in 2013 and is expected to reach 6 billion by 2020” (Janeček, 2018) There are hundreds of new upcoming devices that are collecting data, such as Smart Toothbrushes, Bluetooth Insoles and even something called HAPIfork. The HAPIfork monitors what you eat, when you eat and it can track your eating habits. Technology like this has its pros and cons but can technology become too intrusive? People will be interested in capitalising the data that the HAPIfork collects and this is a form of ...
Post a Comment
Read more