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Dr. Robot Watches Over Home And More
jverbov writes "A Canadian firm has created what they call an 'intellgent personal robotic companion.' It can be wirelessly connected to your home Internet connection, has a built-in camera and speech recognition software. There's a recent article about it at the Toronto Star." This thing promises a lot, and while the price is steep, it's a lot cheaper than some other household robots due out.
So anyone with a bit of knowhow (or the right script) could potentially hijack this device to watch ladies change, or to observe someone punching in an alarm code, or whatever else their devious little minds might come up with? I really like the idea of Canadian robots, and having connected devices is pretty neat as well - but the internet is inherently insecure, and I just don't know if I'd feel comfortable with a little camera running around watching me all day when the possibility exists that someone could access it.
You want your alarm system to be visible; make the badguys think twice about breaking in.
If the alarm system consists of a toy; then the burglers are going to break in, trash the joint, then get shot when the cops turn up.
Blood is really hard to get out of shagpile!
If not, it isn't worth the price tag.
;)
Probably most people like me are looking for something that is smart enough to take over mundane household tasks like the laundry, vacumming, mowing the lawn. etc...
You know, preferably one that happens to be cheaper than having a kid.
No way!!
When the first batch of the robots is released next year they'll likely cost between $1,500 and $3,100, Xie said.
For a robot that can walk and maintain his balance, as well as all of the other things mentioned in the article (all wireless too!) I don't think it's a steep price at all!! Any computer geek knows that a good computer costs them 3,500 (CDN) just to play games at a good speed! I think having a robot around at that price is paltry in comparison to what you can do with it!!!
in girum imus nocte et consumimur igni
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How can a robot enhance your life? They make it sound like you're adopting someone or hiring your own personal assistant.
Let me know when robots can actually do important yet monotonous tasks for me, and then I'll buy one. Until then, I'll just consider robots cool gadgetry, but not purposeful, functional things.
Or get a dog.
Imagine this thing being hacked, if it's got an internet connection, it's just a matter of time. With the options this thing has it could report you to the RIAA for downloading songs, or start the next "klez variant" outbreak, even record your "extra carricular activities" to play back for your girlfriend. It's a robotic spy waiting to happen.
) Human Kind Vs Human Creation
) It'd be interesting to see how many humans would survive to serve us.
So far, I really don't see much that distinguishes this "personal robot" from, say, Microsoft ActiMates Barney. Well, it _does_ have the thermal sensor thing... why does this suddenly seem like Barney meets the Terminator?
Seriously, though... this seems like agent technology done right. I'd much prefer Dr. Robot to Clippit, thank you very much. However, I forsee that this will be considered nothing but a very expensive toy. Perhaps he can contend with rand(verb); Me Elmo 5 years from now for Christmas domination.
"I am root. Bow before me." To this I say, "You are root, and you bear the sins of the world upon your shoulders."
Pretty hard to check your email when your computer is the back of some guy's van.
Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
(and 640k ought to be enough RAM for it :-)
If you know AI, you know that the definition isn't even well defined. Who says that the ultimate achievement will even be a human-like intelligence or self-awareness?
You may think I am a blind nay-sayer, but I'm actually one of those whack-o's that believes in a AI-driven technological singularity, which will likely destroy us, in one way or another. Destroy might not be negative in this context, since it may mean we live on, just not in animal form, but possibly still as distinct intelligences.
But... Do you really think that some consumer hardware robot gimmick is really any reason to bring this up? Were you equally alarmed by Furby?
I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
Unless the robot gets some big gnashing teeth and a good lunging procedure programmeded in, somehow I think that - for security measures - a guard dog is still better.
Will there be a sign like: caution, guard robot.
The problem is, that until somebody steps within our little metal friend's perimeter, they can happily plunder your house. Even if the robot grabs them quickly, they're still able to get away for some smash and grab.
Meanwhilst, fido (with the sign indicating the house is guarded, to hopefully dissuade idiotic US lawsuits) with his dagger-sharp teeth and strong appetite for crooks is still going to be a much better deterrent.
Of course, if we could get some robots with laser beams or something equally cool. Maybe you could program it to make the groin area an optimal aim-point... good deterrant indeed!