-Caveat Lector- > From NineMSN, > http://news.ninemsn.com.au/sci_tech/story_15727.asp > - > 21:39 AEDT Fri 13 Jul 2001 > > Robots almost redundant says expert > > The popular concept of humanoid robots that look like us and even think like > us is almost redundant, even before it becomes a reality, according to an > international expert. > > In the future, humans will become the robots, according to robotics > professor Rodney Brooks, the head of the artificial intelligence laboratory > at Boston's MIT. > > Dr Brooks said even today people were starting to accept technology into > their bodies in the form of bionic ears, brain implants to control > Parkinson's disease and other devices. > > In the not too distant future there would be a much wider use of such > technology, allowing, for instance, direct connection between the human > brain and the internet. > > But over the longer term manipulation of the human genome would eventually > allow the world's industrial infrastructure and the human body to merge. > > In practical terms that would allow humans to operate with the accuracy and > control of machines and to have almost complete control over their immediate > environment. > > "So the concept of a robot in a human form, I believe, will become > redundant," Professor Brooks said after speaking at the Festival Ideas in > Adelaide. > > "We're going to change ourselves so much, we're going to be the robots." > > In his speech, Dr Brooks said robots capable of interacting in a limited way > with humans had already been developed in his work at the Massachusetts > Institute of Technology. > > Their level of sophistication was such that humans who came into contact > with them acted as though they were in the presence of another being. > > But on the question of whether they could ever have real emotions, feel love > or pain or even know what it was to be afraid, Dr Brooks said there was > still some way to go. > > "We can't say that a robot can know what it is to be afraid," he said. > > "But what we can say is that they can act as if they are afraid." > > -- > Dan S > > > <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
