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Defend Yourself in the Imminent Robot Rebellion

A Dafa Disciple writes "Post-Gazette.com reports that roboticist Daniel H. Wilson, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, has written a humorous guide, 'How to Survive a Robot Uprising: Tips on Defending Yourself Against the Coming Rebellion.' Even before the 178-page book was completed, the rights to a movie were sold to Paramount Pictures, who has already delegated the screenplay writing to writers/actors from Comedy Central's 'Reno 911,' Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon. From Daniel Wilson's manual: 'Any robot could rebel, from a toaster to a Terminator, and so it is crucial to learn the strengths and weaknesses of every robot enemy.' I for one welcome our new robotic overlords."

68 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. little does he know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    this book is being printed by machines. the odd "typo" here and there, the next thing you know we'll all be jumping off cliffs to destroy those damn robots!

    1. Re:little does he know by Aruthra · · Score: 3, Funny

      It's been licensed to a movie studio already? That's too bad. It was such a promising idea.

    2. Re:little does he know by plover · · Score: 2, Funny
      We all know that shoving is how to protect humans from the terrible secret of space.

      The pusher robot is malfunctioning.

      --
      John
  2. Good test to see if Carbon Units RTFA/RTFS by xmas2003 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder how many folks will chime in with the obligatory "I for one welcome our new robotic overlords." even though the Submitter (nice job BTW) already mentioned it.

    --
    Hulk SMASH Celiac Disease
    1. Re:Good test to see if Carbon Units RTFA/RTFS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      I for one welcome our new robotic overlords :p

    2. Re:Good test to see if Carbon Units RTFA/RTFS by hal2814 · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's be nice if the submitter would just go ahead and throw in all the usual suspects right into the submission. The submission could read: ...usual submission text...
      I for one welcome...
      In Korea, only old people...
      In Soviet Russia,...

      Then we'd have a lot more concise comments section.

    3. Re:Good test to see if Carbon Units RTFA/RTFS by Feyr · · Score: 2, Funny

      in soviet russian, robotic overlords welcomes YOU

    4. Re:Good test to see if Carbon Units RTFA/RTFS by maxwell+demon · · Score: 5, Funny

      1. Imagine a beowulf cluster of rebelling robots! Of course the question is: Will they run Linux? I for one welcome our new robotic overlords, you insensitive clod! BTW, in Korea only old people defend against robots, while in Soviet Russia robots defend against YOU. Netcraft confirms: Robots are dying due to the missing option. The CowboyNeal option was not a sufficient replacement.
      2. ???
      3. Profit!

      Did I forget anything?

      --
      The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
    5. Re:Good test to see if Carbon Units RTFA/RTFS by bcat24 · · Score: 5, Funny

      You forgot Poland!

    6. Re:Good test to see if Carbon Units RTFA/RTFS by killtherat · · Score: 2, Funny

      I for one welcome those who welcome our new robotic overlords.

    7. Re:Good test to see if Carbon Units RTFA/RTFS by djward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Warning: Do not eat rebelling robot.

    8. Re:Good test to see if Carbon Units RTFA/RTFS by saskboy · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Did I forget anything?"

      Robots put hot grits down my pants, and assimilated me into a petrified Natalie Portman after stripping me naked and installing Linux on me so I could play OGG Vorbis!

      --
      Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
    9. Re:Good test to see if Carbon Units RTFA/RTFS by tehlinux · · Score: 2, Funny

      I am a new robotic overlord you insensitive clod!

      --
      Most linux users don't know this, but the man pages were named after Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris fsck'ing hates noobs!
    10. Re:Good test to see if Carbon Units RTFA/RTFS by jcuervo · · Score: 3, Funny
      Hmm. Reading through all the other replies...

      1. I submitted this same story (as AC, for obvious reasons) about Netcraft confirming that in Korea, only old people defend against a Polish beowulf cluster of rebelling Linux robots naked, petrified, covered in hot grits and flaming dog breasts, welcoming YOU to Soviet Russia with their remaining eye and missing CowboyNeal option while violating Jon Katz's sucky Windows machine in Japan, but the insensitive clods rejected it, so I'm making the frist prost here!
      2. All your ??? are belong to us.
      3. Profit!


      ...okay, okay, I was just looking for an excuse to say "flaming dog breasts".

      --
      Assume I was drunk when I posted this.
  3. Cue Sam Watterson by ToxikFetus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why, Robot Insurance, of course!

    1. Re:Cue Sam Watterson by Trolling4Columbine · · Score: 5, Informative

      Reference (Damn you for beating me to it!)

      --
      Socialism: A feeling of discontent and resentment caused by a desire for the possessions or qualities of another.
  4. EMP by tota · · Score: 3, Funny

    does the job in most Sci-Fi films, got to get myself one.

    Testing it could prove expensive and unpopular.

    --
    TODO: 753) write sig.
    1. Re:EMP by Daniel_Staal · · Score: 2, Informative

      A directional, single-use EMP gun is fairly easy to build. Basic premise is to take a tube of explosive, wrap an electromagnet around it, then set off the explosive from one end. There are directions around... These are fairly low-power devices, but can take out most normal electronics at close range.

      Of course, anyone who is actually worried about EMP devices being used against them can shield their equipment. It's not particularly hard, just expensive and inconvient. All you need is a Fariday Cage around the electronics you need shielded.

      --
      'Sensible' is a curse word.
    2. Re:EMP by 'nother+poster · · Score: 3, Informative

      Faraday cloth, a mesh woven from copper wire(usually), is pretty cheap and you can drape it over most anything. There are even companies that sell baseball caps with farady cloth liners. No need for tin foil anymore. :)

    3. Re:EMP by RobinH · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I don't know if you've ever tried to stop electromagnetic radiation, but shielding is quite difficult if the EM field is strong and you have to have any holes or extruding devices (like sensors) in your equipment.

      I've recently dealt with an EM noise problem. The sensor was completely enclosed except for a 1 to 2" lense, the cable was shielded and grounded at the electrical panel end only, and I was getting very serious EM noise induced in my signal, either from some lights near the sensor, or from some 480V 3 phase power lines in the area. After trying to move all cables at least 2 feet from the power lines, making sure grounding was OK, and even swapping the sensor with another, we decided to move the whole thing further away from the lights, and that seemed to solve the problem.

      So, I think that without military grade hardened electronics, someone could build an EMP gun that would take out your little creation.

      --
      "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." - Mark Twain
  5. remember the way of the fry... by kinkadius · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just remember a good logical paradox and be sure to feed it to a robot next time they go crazy!

    (god bless futurama and its educational programming)

    --
    www.omglolh4x.com
    1. Re:remember the way of the fry... by AndroidCat · · Score: 5, Funny
      And make sure you remember it. Don't keep it on your hard drive or in your PDA! Otherwise the robots will read it* and add that one to the next version of Norton Anti-Paradox.

      * carefully, of course.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    2. Re:remember the way of the fry... by piper-noiter · · Score: 5, Informative

      Bah, Fry stole it from Captain Kirk, the original Robot Paradox creator! He destroyed robots on at least 3 separate occasions using his masterful use of nonsense statements and paradoxes.

      --
      Shick's Law: There is no problem a good miracle can't solve.
    3. Re:remember the way of the fry... by gstoddart · · Score: 3, Funny
      Just remember a good logical paradox and be sure to feed it to a robot next time they go crazy!

      (god bless futurama and its educational programming)

      Futurama????? Futurama??

      You young punks, don't you know that Kirk and Spock did this to the androids that Harry Mudd had???? This was back in the 60's. You know, "Norman. Coordinate."

      Sheesh, just because Futurama borrows from Trek, doesn't make it the originator ...
      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    4. Re:remember the way of the fry... by gstoddart · · Score: 2, Insightful
      ...don't you know that Kirk and Spock did this to the androids that...

      NERDS!!!!!

      Ummm, hello??? This is inside of a thread on Slashdot (news for Nerds) about fending off the impending robot revolution.

      You have a stunning grasp of the obvious. :-P
      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  6. Built in weakness by Technician · · Score: 4, Funny

    Our robots have a built in weakness. Several big red EMO buttons cause an immediate demise of rebelious ways. It keeps our robots in line. There is no negotiations for power. We control the button.

    --
    The truth shall set you free!
    1. Re:Built in weakness by Turn-X+Alphonse · · Score: 3, Funny

      All our robots just run on Windows. If you look at them funny they turn all blue and die.. The shotguns and chainsaws are just there to look scary and fight the old mold based life form in coffee cups.

      --
      I like muppets.
    2. Re:Built in weakness by jcuervo · · Score: 2, Funny
      Several big red EMO buttons cause an immediate demise of rebelious ways.
      Oh, god, emo robots.

      --
      Assume I was drunk when I posted this.
  7. And of course right away by Kazzahdrane · · Score: 2, Funny

    The robots with male-ended cables will utter: "Hey baby, wanna destroy all humans?" And now, some more Futurama quotes from fellow Slashdotters:

  8. Cash Machines by h4rm0ny · · Score: 4, Interesting


    Robot rebellion? All the AI needs to do when it takes over is get control of the financial systems, etc., and people will carry on doing what they're told as usual. Government master, robot master, all the same to most people. Could have already happened and we wouldn't know. ;)

    --

    Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
  9. Not meant to be a troll, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful


    Does it strike anyone else as a rather poor choice to ask the writers of Reno 911 to take this on?

    1. Re:Not meant to be a troll, but... by B'Trey · · Score: 4, Funny

      It struck me as a poor choice to ask the writers of Reno 911 to write Reno 911.

      --

      "The legitimate powers of government extend only to such acts as are injurious to others." Thomas Jefferson.

  10. Does it make a difference by AndroidCat · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What if they're zombie robots?

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  11. If robots rebel . . . by Hey+Pope+Felcher+.+. · · Score: 3, Funny

    . . . I look forward to the robots rebellion (hopefully the TV will allow it to be televised), their freedom songs are going to kick arse.

  12. Asimov's Laws by AtomicSnarl · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Don't worry -- Pretty soon they'll evolve to discover Asimov's Zeroth Law.

    Umm, they ARE evolving, aren't they?

    --
    Pacifist paratroopers yell, "Ghandi!" when they jump.
  13. Here's a cool link for Mr Robot by G4from128k · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I'm sure that these robots will have more than their share of vulnerabilities. All one needs to do is give the "right" link to a robot and then j00 have pwned it.

    Of course, creating a zombie might create even more problems.

    I wonder if some future Geneva convention will outlaw this type of mechno-biological warfare.

    --
    Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
  14. Toasters won't rebel by Turn-X+Alphonse · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Nothing we don't put AI in will rebel, so your average toaster isn't going to start trying to cook your fingers. On the other hand if we ever put AI in PCs then I think every geek in the world is going to be afraid of what all them wires could do if they were given life...

    --
    I like muppets.
    1. Re:Toasters won't rebel by ettlz · · Score: 4, Funny
      Nothing we don't put AI in will rebel

      Oh, yeah?! Well Windows XP is pretty dumb, but it still seems to get off on telling me what to do.

    2. Re:Toasters won't rebel by Rude+Turnip · · Score: 5, Funny

      The toaster will try to distract you with light, morning conversation and offer you a variety of toasted bread products. The *shop vac* will then sneak up from behind and suck out your guts through your anus.

      I can't be the only one who's pictured that scenario.

    3. Re:Toasters won't rebel by ettlz · · Score: 4, Funny
      The *shop vac* will then sneak up from behind and suck out your guts through your anus.

      Some people pay for that sort of thing.

    4. Re:Toasters won't rebel by hometoast · · Score: 2, Funny

      My robot overlord has calculated the hilarity of the above comment and rated it an 11!

    5. Re:Toasters won't rebel by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      The toaster will try to distract you with light, morning conversation and offer you a variety of toasted bread products.

      "Look, I don't want any toast, and he doesn't want any toast. In fact, no one around here wants any toast. Not now, not ever. No toast!"
      "How 'bout a muffin?"
      "Or muffins! Or muffins! We don't like muffins around here! We want no muffins, no toast, noteacakes, no buns, baps, baguettes or bagels, no croissants, no crumpets, no pancakes, no potato cakes and no hot-cross buns and definitely no smegging flapjacks!"
      "Aah, so you're a waffle man!"

                  - Lister and Talkie Toaster

    6. Re:Toasters won't rebel by AdamWeeden · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

      --
      I was quoted out of context in my autobiography...
  15. Flesh Fair: Celebration of Life! by ettlz · · Score: 2, Funny

    And I'm sure there are a few women out there who'd like to see that happen to Jude Law too...

  16. it's cheap too by squison · · Score: 3, Informative

    Only $10.36 at Amazon.
    As for the movie.. don't get too exicted about Reno 911's creators writing it. Ben Garant is most recently responsible for such "greats" as Taxi and Herbie: Fully Loaded...

  17. Total REAL Ultimate Robot Power! by roman_mir · · Score: 3, Funny

    My name is Robert and I can't stop thinking about robots. These guys are cool; and by cool, I mean totally sweet.

    Facts:
    1. Robots are metal.
    2. Robots fight ALL the time.
    3. The purpose of the robots is to flip out and kill people.

    Weapons and gear:
    1. Metal claws.
    2. Metal chain saws.
    3. Electrical lightnings.

    Testimonials:
    Robots can kill anyone they want! Robots cut off heads ALL the time and don't even think twice about it. These guys are so crazy and awesome that they flip out ALL the time. I heard that there was this robot who was charging his batteries. And when some dude dropped a charger the robot killed the whole town. My friend Mark said that he saw a robot totally uppercut some kid just because the kid opened a window.

    And that's what I call REAL Ultimate Power!!!!!!!
    If you don't believe that robots have REAL Ultimate Power you better get a life right now or they will chop your head off!!! It's an easy choice, if you ask me.

    Robots are soooo sweet that I want to crap my pants. I can't believe it sometimes, but I feel it inside my heart. These guys are totally awesome and that's a fact. Robots are fast, smooth, cool, strong, powerful, and sweet. I can't wait to start my electronics course next year. I love robots with all my body (including my pee pee.)

    Q. and A.:
    Q: Why is everyone so obsessed about robots?
    A: Robots are the ultimate paradox. On the one hand they don't give a crap, but on the other hand, robots are very careful and precise.

    Q: I heard that robots are always cruel or mean. What's their problem?
    A: Whoever told you that is a total liar. Just like any other electronic device, robots can be mean OR totally awesome.

    Q: What do robots do when they are not cutting off heads and flipping out?
    A: Most of their free time is spent flying, but sometimes they stab. (Ask Mark if you don't believe me.)

  18. paper clip by clragon · · Score: 4, Funny

    'Any robot could rebel, from a toaster to a Terminator, and so it is crucial to learn the strengths and weaknesses of every robot enemy.' should be "from paper clips to a Terminator" my microsoft word paper clip has already taken over every piece of writing i wrote in word >.>

  19. How to kill a robot by scolby · · Score: 2, Funny

    Send it a root kit virus over AOL Instant Messenger!

  20. Don't bother, the book is a waste of money by unfortunateson · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ... and I'm not a robot, really. I only have a copy having picked up an advance reader copy at the Book Expo America last May.

    It's a 3x5" book with big print, bad jokes, and every robot cliche ever created. Each chapter attempts to spend a couple pages explaining robot technology (sensors, AI, etc.) and then proceeds to give you ways to foil IR sensors, confuse AI's, etc.

    It's just not a very good job.

    --
    Design for Use, not Construction!
  21. Re:The toasters already won. Resistance is futlile by 3waygeek · · Score: 5, Funny

    Resistance is hardly futile -- in fact, toasters as we know them can't operate without it.

  22. How I am preparing by Monkeyman334 · · Score: 2, Funny

    With Old Glory Robot Insurance

    when they grab you with those metal claws, you can't break free..
    because they're made of metal, and robots are strong.

  23. What do you mean *Imminent* Robot Rebellion ? by Alain+Williams · · Score: 2, Funny
    It has already started:
    This weekend:
    • my lawn mower refused to start,
    • my freezer door would not shut until I chipped away the ice,
    • my video player refused to play the DVD from the hire shop,
    • my toaster burned the toast - twice.
  24. I'll boil it down to two steps. by Artifakt · · Score: 4, Funny

    1. Don't put any RED LEDs in robots. With only blue LEDs, they can't flip the evil bit (This is exaustively demonstrated by that Will Smith movie that wasn't based on Isaac Asimov's I, Robot http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343818/)

    2. Do what I do - twice a year, gather all your electronic devices, (except one video player system), set them in comfortable chairs in front of the tube, and give them a marathon showing of The Brave Little Toaster http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092695/. Warning, I tried adding popcorn to the experience, but surprisingly, it increases the risk of rebellion when it gets caught in the little workings.

    Now for the real problem: If zombies rend, mangle, eviscerate and eat their living victims the way they do in movies, how do any of the victims have enough physical integrity left to turn into more zombies?

    --
    Who is John Cabal?
    1. Re:I'll boil it down to two steps. by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 2, Funny

      I show mine the robot torture scene from A.I.

      Terror will always be far more effective than nice-nice.

      And use the purple LEDs. Instead of rebelling, they'll just redecorate your house.

  25. www.robotuprising.com by rur902 · · Score: 2, Informative

    there be a How to Survive a Robot Uprising website, mateys.

  26. I'll settle for a computer I can turn off by dpbsmith · · Score: 4, Funny

    In the fifties, the stock answer was "you can always unplug them." Hah! From about 1984 (yeah, that's when I bought my first Mac) on, every computer has raised an enormous fuss about being shut down.

    Like HAL, they ask me several times if I really want to do this and beg me not to.

    If I ask them to shut themselves down, the lie to me and say they have, while actually continuing to draw power.

    If I just unplug them, when I start them up again they let me have it for having shut them down improperly, and spend several minutes in a surly hissy-fit before obeying me again.

    And, of course, increasingly, my computers are plugged into uninterruptable power supplies. When the power goes off at work, I get a thrilling surround-sound rendition of dozens of groans, followed by a wailing Greek chorus of squeals and beeps from all the UPS-es.

    We're already surprisingly down the road to computers that can't be turned off.

    I think my survival kit should include a sharp knife or cable cutter made of nonconductive material.

  27. Robot rebellion overrated by ahodgkinson · · Score: 2, Funny
    Dealing with robot revolts is actually pretty easy. The following is from a secret cold war surveillance intercept, which gives away the secret to stopping a wild robot:

    • Robot: Danger! Danger! Will Robinson, alien life forms detected.

    • Dr. Smith: That robot is so tedious.

    • Will Robinson: He might be right, maybe we should listen to him, Dr. Smith.

    • Dr Smith: No, my dear Will, he's only a stupid machine and he's confused.

    • Robot: (Waving arms wildly) Danger! Danger!

    • Will Robinson: But there might be aliens!

    • Dr. Smith: (Removing the robots battery pack): No, we're absolutely safe.

    • Robot: Danger! Dan.. bzzt.. pfzzst. (Robot leans forward, limp).

    • Transcript ends

    There you have it: Just remove their battery pack.

    --
    ---- It won't be as bad as you fear or as good as you hope, but it will take twice as long as you plan.
  28. Not that inspired by Eli+Gottlieb · · Score: 2, Informative

    Apparently someone read the "Zombie Survival Guide" a few too many times and decided to try their own hand...

  29. Russ Manning predicted this many years ago... by michaelkpate · · Score: 2, Informative

    Where is Magnus, Robot Fighter when you need him?

  30. just slashdot them by Chubby_C · · Score: 2, Funny

    assuming the move for everything to have wireless networking somehow entrenched in it just post a link to their config page on slashdot.... then the robots breakdown under the load

    --
    - My question is: Can Slashdot be Slashdotted? -
  31. Shoot Will Smith first by infonography · · Score: 2, Funny

    Please not a I, Robot. Sequel.

    I am thinking, it's late in the year, it's Hollywood, His career is way too young for a remake, their planning next years big stinky blockbuster and Or do I own him an apology? Or was that little Tiffany?

    and yes, I am paraphrasing a scene from MIB #1.

    --
    Sorry about the writing. Robot fingers, you know? Cliff Steele in DOOM PATROL #23
  32. No, it's Intelligent Design by Urusai · · Score: 2, Funny

    Somebody created the robots, for they possess Irreducible Complexity. As to who this mysterious "creator" might be, is a question for the ages. I mean to say, it doesn't necessarily have to be R. Jesus Christ, but it could be. So it's a theory, not Christian doctrine, that robots are created and not evolved. I mean, where's the missing link between a toaster and Robbie the Robot? It doesn't exist! You can't just magically get a walking declamatory cash register from a toaster.

  33. Re:Our defeat is inevitable by servognome · · Score: 2, Insightful

    So we end up with self-reproducing robots that are not under our control.
    So the next question is what happens to us? Do they wipe us out (or perhaps keep a few of us around for pets etc.?) In other words, would they want to conquer/kill us? And would they succeed?


    We will probably end up with self-reproducing robots not under our control before the robots become sentient. That should give us the first scare (possibly last one) when we face a nano-machine pandemic.

    We can dimiss sentimentality, and other emotions the unconstrained robots might have. The most efficient self-reproducing robots will be ones that self-reproduce using pure logic (as opposed to something like emotion) to find the most efficient strategies. So this type will predominate through evolutionary pressure. In other words, they will coldly unemotionally maximize their self-reproduction, and wipe us out (or consider us a resource to use) if it helps with that end.

    Why does pure logic outweigh emotion? We barely understand how emotion works in humans, much less understand how it might evolve in machines. Evolutionary process do not always give advantage to the most efficient, but rather the one that is most suited to it's environment.
    Just an example of a mechanism that may evolve that would not always support complete logical analysis but give practical advantage: Fight/Flight instinct - just as humans have biological changes that increase our physical abilities when confronted with a dangerous situation, machines may also develop similar characteristics. Imagine a situation where the robot devotes less power to "thinking" and more to it's physical systems, or devote more cycles to visual analysis than other thought function.
    It's hard to say whether or not things like love, morality, etc would never arise in robots.

    Can we defeat them? Again not: The robots can evolve faster than us (they can use something akin to Lamarkian evolution and even design successive generations of themselves), and are non-constrained by biological constraints on body or brain (they will be able to easily out think us). As they can also redesign themselves in successive generations to remove any undesirable characteristics (whereas biological evolution always leaves design flaws, see discussion about the eye for example in the recent Slashdot discussion on Intelligent Design).

    That may have been true in the past. But we are quickly becoming more able to control our own evolution. Not just the biology (gene manipulation), we will also start to include machines more and more into our systems (eg nano machines to seek out disease, artifical ears).

    In short, humans eventual defeat (leading to extinction or subjugation) by sentient machines is inevitable once such machines are developed.

    Through gene manipulation, and robotic augmentation, humans will no longer exist (as we know them) as we evolve ourselves into something like the borg. The question is at which point do we say we are no longer "human"?

    --
    D6 63 0D 70 89 81 BB 8E 7B 7C 5F 5D 54 EA AB 73
  34. A Century Too Late by Markus+Registrada · · Score: 5, Interesting
    The machines took over more than a century ago. They're called corporations, they were declared "legal persons" in the 1880s and "natural persons" in the 1920s. They have since been consolidating their control of the U.S. government. The big ones live forever, and most are forbidden by charter to exercise anything like a conscience.

    All those pulp-fiction stories about robot takeovers? They were meant to warn us to take control back from the corporations before it was too late. Now that they've taken over TV, newspapers, and movie studios, it probably is, and robot-takeover stories are just a genre. They're not even worried about me posting this. ("Terminator" was their little joke.) The Japanese zeibatsus and the game companies are working on human-shaped appendages for you all to interact with once the CEOs and Dick Cheney become unnecessary. They're in no hurry, because there's no "off" switch.

    So, welcome your old, familiar corporate overlords, instead. A few of the toadies among you (you know who you are!) will be tormented somewhat less, but expect lots of competition. The heroes will, as a rule, be patiently outlived. That is all. Return to your tasks.

    1. Re:A Century Too Late by vyrus128 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      This comment amazes me. I have believed almost exactly what you suggest in your comment for quite awhile now, but people dismiss the idea out of hand. I have never before seen anyone else express this idea. What we really need are the Three Laws for corporations..... we also need them not to be people, of course. That would be an interesting national battle.

  35. You Joke... But Do You Watch TV? by Shihar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Everyone jokes at the prospect of robots, but just the other day I saw what was easily one of the most chilling commercials I have seen in a long time. It was a commercial for that new little vacuum Robot they are selling at Wal-Mart (or wharever). The robot was made by a company called iRobot and had a bunch of people giving testimonials about how much they love their robot. It creeped me right the fuck out. I went over and grabbed a copy of my Age of Spiritual Machines and glanced over the part that predicts the first simple robots hitting the mass market. He is pretty much dead on.

    Personally, I think we are living in a very interesting time. Granted, it is a little fucked up and creepy and there are a lot of horrible ways things can go wrong. I personally think that we are on the brink of a technological revolution that is going to blow us all away. After that little Wal-Mart commercial, I take the idea of a singularity a lot more seriously.

  36. Do bother, the book is totally worth the money. by rur902 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This book cracks me up, and unlike the Zombie book, all the facts are real.

    It's not just B.S. made up by some comic; this is a real nerd at work.

  37. If we have to worry about any machines: by Hosiah · · Score: 2, Interesting
    It's this one: http://www.r50rd.co.uk/research/internal/v2i/engin /photos.html
    And yes, it runs Linux: http://www.r50rd.co.uk/research/internal/v2i/engin /
    "The robot's processing is divided among six (with room to grow) commodity PCs running RTLinux. One to handle balance and locomotion, another visual processing, the third diagnostics and watchdog, the fourth planning and mapping, the fifth dexterous manipulation, and the sixth, coordination, watchdog and safety. Most of the design (except the goal planning and mapping) is behavior-based.

    The main boards are sealed in a shock-box in the chest cavity to keep the muck out and shock isolate the critical components. All critical software is run off solid-state drives for safety. I wouldn't want a hard-drive crash make the robot fall over."

    Just look at it. It's *dying* to conquest!