Robotics are Advancing the Society

Robotics are Advancing the Society

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Robotics are Advancing the Society

Gone are the days when robots were used in laboratories and factories. Personal and professional robots have become more common. Robotics has become more common with the invention of smart devices. They have multiple uses and this has increased the number of people who need and use them. Yet despite their increase, controversies abound concerning their use. Some people praise the benefits that robots would bring while others focus on their disadvantages. Child minding robots have advanced to the extent that they now have facial and voice recognition abilities and they can engage children in activities such as playing games. It has become possible to control the robots remotely using mobile phones (Sharkey, 2008). Some people are concerned that robots will reduce the number of jobs available. They are concerned that companies will opt to buy cheap robots instead of hiring people, as this will be more cost effective. Other people are concerned by the fact that robots may replace human roles such as taking care of older people and children. Some people prefer robots because they will do what is expected of them and they do not disappoint, judge or frustrate. Other are concerned that robots will take away the sociability and interactive nature that unites humans. Robots are the future. They have numerous benefits and they are meant to solve existing problems. By solving such problems, robots can indeed make the world a better place.

The use of Apple’s Siri has illustrated the benefits that robotics can have on different people. People who are socially challenged and those with communication problems are able to talk to, and receive directions from the application. They can interact with the application as if they were having a conversation with someone. Siri is able to recognize voice and it can hold conversations. Unlike humans, it is capable of answering multiple questions without losing patience. The application has proved useful for different people including children with autism (Newman, 2014). Such children are able to benefit because they do not have to abide by the rules of social etiquette when they are interacting with the application.

The use of robotics has given people opportunities that they did not have previously. Children had to stay at home or at the hospital when they had chronic conditions. They could only go to school when they got better. This has changed with the advancement of robotics. There is a camera and internet enabled robot, VGo, which is able to stream video in two ways. This makes it possible for a bed-ridden student to join her classmates when they are learning and interact with them as if she were a part of the class. This makes it possible for the children to develop social relationships despite their limited abilities and keep up with their academics. The VGo supports two-way communication and it is easy for the user to control it. The student can get the attention of the teacher in the classroom by flashing the lights attached to the system. In addition to the education sector, the VGos can also be used in healthcare settings. Doctors can use the VGO to see patients at different hospitals (Brown, 2013). Since the doctors and patients can interact, it becomes easier to manage healthcare.

Many people are considering the benefits of robotics and they want them to become a mainstay in their lives. Every new technology or new use of the available technology is often met with some resistance. However, people become receptive once they understand the benefits of using such technology. The same principles apply to robotics. People are afraid because they are not sure how the presence of robots will affect them. Increased use of robots will enable their technology to advance. It will be possible to rectify the existing mistakes and weaknesses of the robots. People should consider how the robots would benefit those who do not have the same abilities and capabilities as they do.

References:

Brown, B. (2013). A swiveling proxy that will even wear a tutu.

Newman, J. (2014). How one boy with autism became BFF with Apple’s Siri.

Sharkey, N. (2008). The Ethical Frontiers of Robotics.