Slashdot Mirror


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."

38 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. 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 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.
    4. Re:Good test to see if Carbon Units RTFA/RTFS by bcat24 · · Score: 5, Funny

      You forgot Poland!

    5. 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 '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. :)

    2. 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.
  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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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...

  16. 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.)

  17. 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 >.>

  18. 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!
  19. 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

  20. 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.

  21. 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?
  22. 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.

  23. 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.