...Uncanny Doubles Freud in his essay “The Uncanny” describes a feeling of discord that humans experience when presented with objects that are both familiar and strange. The discord is expressed in humans by being both attracted by, but at the same time repulsed by, an object. Based on Freud’s description of the uncanny Mori wrote an essay describing the instances in which humans have a negative reaction when encountered with something uncanny. To describe and explain human reaction’s to certain objects Mori uses human familiarity and human likeness, through these variables he explains what can make something fall in to the “Uncanny Valley”. Therefore different types of robots cause different reactions to humans based on how much human resemblance they have. By looking at human interaction with robots, one can see that they represent Mori’s argument that those with low familiarity and high human likeness become uncanny. Humans respond positively to things that look human up to a point but when these things look human but are not a repulsive reaction develops, this is one of the reasons we find certain kinds of robots repulsive. Researchers in Japan designed “Child-Robot with Biomimetic” which is also known as CB2. “The robot weights 73 pounds and stands 4 feet tall, has 56 actuators that control its motion and 197 sensors that simulate touch”(Techworld News). CB2 looks like a bald human with a rubber exterior and black eyes which are movement sensitive.CB2 develops social skills...
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...1 INTRODUCTION People have been thinking about artificial intelligence since before the 1950's. It was in that time that Alan Turing proposed the “Turing Test”. Which measures how well a computer can think by having an interrogator ask it and a human questions. If the interrogator cannot determine which is human and which is machine then the machine has passed the Turing test.[1] Its been 15 Years since Deep Blue beat the world chess champion Gary Kasparov. And since then chess computers have continued to improve dominate. Most notably Deep Fritz the desktop chess program beating Vladimir Kramnik.[2] Just 2 years ago IBM developed “Watson” a computer that played Jeopardy and beat former winner Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter.[3] With A.I. Improving the question of how intelligent machines should be used to interact with humans becomes more and more relevant. In what ways can A.I. be used to interact with people and what moral implications exist? 2 A.I. IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR Intelligent machines are already being used by many private companies. These are in the forms of autopilot, data mining, facial recognition, etc. Those are not form of A.I. that humans interact with. There some modern uses of A.I. Humans interact with such as automated systems and there will be more as technologies develop. Something else that will come along with the development of artificial intelligence is robots as domestic helpers. And both of these will bring with them many ethical questions to...
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...Robots Like Us talks about robots becoming more lifelike. It discusses the issue of the “uncanny valley,” which is the hardships of interactions between humans and robots and the limitations of those interactions. There have been many improvements to robots and the way they move and interact, and there are still improvements being made to the body movements and the fluidity of those movements. The interactions between robots and humans are ever increasing, for the better in most cases. This magazine article had a lot of good information in it. If someone were to want to read more on the topic, the end of the article had many sources you could go to in order to learn more on the subject. They presented everything in a very orderly fashion with every new topic building on the last topic discussed. The information was presented in a very simple fashion making it easy to understand. There are many good topics in the article that could be used to support an idea for an essay. This article is a very good informational resource, it would be great for someone writing a paper one the subject. All the information was factual and cited correctly. There was extra reading material on the subject at the end of the article. I would give the article a 10/10 on being a good reference or source for a research topic. References Robots Like Us. (2012). Communications of the ACM, 55(5), 12-13....
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...The southern land of ______ reigns heavy forests and dewy, lush grass and the people within were jolly and full of life. Satyrs run rampant in the nearby forests, their wine glasses never emptying. And the Water Nymphs take joy in leading strangers to their depths and spend their time singing their sickeningly sweet melody. All of the land was under the peaceful rule of ____, a moralistic king with a never-ending love to his people and those he cared about. He was well loved by all, or at least many held high respect for him. He and his family have ruled over ____ for many generations and this year was no different. Within his own court he had an army that would come to his every whim. Priests and scholars wrote for him and told him many stories to entertain him. Scientists provide help to the people and come up with such vast theories that people can’t help but marvel at. Within the massive stone walls of the the castle stretched acres across a large meadow with many structures attached, flowing from building to building. By the time the sun had begun making its way down to kiss the peaks of the mountains, the west wing of the castle had already began putting out lanterns that emitted a warm glow on the cold stone below. Some strolled outside, setting up blankets and stacking books upon the dew covered ground. Some even set up telescopes in hopes of getting a closer look at the event that was about to happen. The astronomers were practically buzzing with excitement. Whispers...
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..." My civilization " Have you ever wondered what are the factors that our ancestors filtered to choose the land they built their civilization on? For example, if you had to choose between a nice river valley surrounded by other civilizations or a secluded island, what would it be? I believe that if I were in charge of a large group of people 1000 years ago I would choose the river valley for three important reasons. Firstly,the river valley will provide me with water so I'll be able to grow crops, secondly I'll be surrounded by other civilizations which gives me an opportunity to trade, and finally once my civilization is strong enough I have the opportunity to expand. I am inclined to believe that water is the most important element on earth, because one of the greatest civilizations in history was built on the benefits of water.The ancient Egyptians "pharaohs" depended on water to survive, using water they were able to feed and dress their people. Which had let me to believe that my geography is my destiny, and that's why I chose the river valley. In addition to the availability of water, the trade of goods and services between people as well as nations has been going on for far more than I can remember.The river valley is surrounded by other civilizations which presents a perfect opportunity for the trade of goods and services.For example, using the river's water to my advantage I can trade my crops for other goods I can't produce. in my own point of view I tend to believe...
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...example is located on the south eastern American coast. Submergent Rias Rias are caused by a rise in sea level or a fall in coast levels (due to tectonics) maybe both this cause a previously dry area of land to become permanently submerged. Examples include Portsmouth, Plymouth and Southampton. Fjords A long narrow inlet with steep sides or cliff faces. They are created by previous glacial movements which form a U-shape valley due to the ice forcing its way through the land. Once the ice melted it leaves the U shaped valley that become fjords. Fjards Fjards are rocky inlet of the sea, usually found along relatively low-lying coasts. Formed by the submergence of a glacial valley, fjards are characteristically more irregularly shaped than the fjords. Like fjords, they may be quite deep and may have thresholds at their mouths. Fjards are often connected by mazes of channels but are not typically river-fed estuaries. Dalmatian Coast These form when valleys run parallel to the coast and flood due to a rise in sea level. The tops of the valleys are above water and appear as islands running parallel to...
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...Glossary Abrasion – waves erode coastline by throwing pebbles against cliff faces Adventure holidays – more active with more risk, off the beaten track, in more unusual destinations Ageing population – increasing percentage of old people (aged 65 and over) Agri-business – type of farming that is run as a big business (no longer a way of life) Aid – money, goods and expertise given by one country to another, either free or at low cost Anticyclone – area of high pressure Appropriate technology – level in terms of size and complexity that makes it suitable for local people to use Arch – rocky opening through a headland formed by wave erosion Arête – sharp-edged two-sided ridge on the top of a mountain Bar – ridge of sand or shingle across the entrance to a bay or river mouth Beach – sloping area of sand and shingle between the high and low water marks Biodiversity – level of plant and animal variety in an ecosystem Birth rate – number of live births per 1000 population per year Boulder clay/till – all materials deposited by ice, usually clay containing sharp-edged boulders of many sizes Brown earth – uniform brown-coloured soil that forms under deciduous woodland Brownfield site – area of previously built-up land that is available to be built on again Carbon credits – each one gives the buyer the right to emit 1 tonne of carbon into the atmosphere Carbon footprint – emissions of carbon dioxide left behind by burning fossil fuels Carbon trading – companies...
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...Assignment 1: Essay HUM 111: World Cultures I Assignment 1: Mummy’s Curse The image of the curse of the mummy instantly conjures up elaborate stories and fantastic discoveries made upon entry into the tomb of King Tutankhamen (King Tut). According to Sayre (2012) “King Tuts tomb was the only tomb discovered that was not destroyed and looted by grave robbers.” In 1922, Howard Carter (a renowned excavator) and his benefactor, the Fifth Earl of Carnarvon, were the first to enter the tomb. According to Luckhurst (2010), the tomb had been uncovered in Carter’s last-chance season of digging in the Valley of the Kings. No new tomb had been discovered for over a decade. In November 1922, they entered the antechamber and the news swept the world. In February 1923, they entered the burial chamber. A sequence of calamitous episodes occurred affecting the men who first entered the tomb. Some of the men became sick and some died. Also, some of their pets died. Some people were using these events to make claims that there was a curse associated with the opening of the tomb. According to Rompalske (2000), the story centered on Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter, and the hardships they suffered. The first conclusion is an inference that has to do with stories regarding the “curse”. At the opening of the tomb of King Tut, a clay tablet was unearthed in the antechamber, with a warning to keep out of the tomb or else experience a horrible death. According to Luckhurst...
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...JIM LEE When looking at this image I notice that both characters represent some form of power. Jim Lee does this by giving them very upright postures to symbolize dominance and very overdeveloped muscles to really show how much power and force these two characters wield. Jim Lee uses very intense shading to define the muscles and indentations on the bodies. This is effective because it seems as though Jim Lee was trying to create the ideal human in this alternate universe. Jim Lee uses two very different characters to create a very distinct contrast within the image, such as; the dark skies, the gargoyle that they’re standing on , the costumes they’re wearing and the way they’ve positioned their hands. This image is interesting because it shows two sides of the same coin or yin and yang. This is great because both of these characters are very heroic and are always fighting in the name of justice. When looking at this image I feel quite jealous because of how perfect the characters are. Jim Lee has done this by giving them great postures and well defined muscles but most of all I think that being on a rooftop has given them more authority. I like this work because it looks good and it portrays strength and power. Background INFO Lee's artwork quickly gained popularity in the eyes of enthusiastic fans, which allowed him to gain greater creative control of the franchise. In 1991, Lee helped launch a second X-Men series simply called X-Men (volume 2), not only as the...
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...In the article, Queer Cyborgs and New Mutants: Race, Sexuality, and Prosthetic Sociality in Digital Space, Mimi Nguyen analyzes the dialectic relationship between organic bodies and technologies in society by conducting an intersectional analysis. Specifically, Nguyen utilizes a narrative about Karma, a mutant who was a Vietnamese war refugee with the ability to “seize control of other peoples mind and bodies” (Nguyen 38). Nguyen, also of Vietnamese descent, use this first-personal narrative to not only relate herself to Karma, but to also humanize the subject at hand. Nguyen exhorts that being a cyborg or mutant is considered to be the ‘other’ in society. She claims that al though these mutants were brought together to fight evil mutants, these “New Mutants are nonetheless viewed with fear and suspicion by the non-mutant population” (Nguyen 374). These cyborgs and mutants are characterized as outsiders because their bodies are subjected to specific stereotypes that do not fit in the overwhelmingly “normal” society. Nguyen continues to say, “in these science fictions mutant bodies and cyborg bodies are analogized as minoritarian bodies, subjected and subjugated…” (377). Relating back to class discussion, these bodies are actually constructing the space around them. Since these mutants are so different and are being put in a space where they are considered to be the “other,” a majority believes it is there duty to remove them from that space. Even with their unique powers and...
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...X-Men First Class I remember growing up in Nigeria as a kid. I recall my mum telling me I always watched X-men animation and how I dreamed of being either Charles or Erik because of the unique super hero powers they have compared to the other mutants. The main aim of this paper is to pass a massage to the reader explaining how super hero movies are not necessarily just for entertainment. Most super hero movies, comic books, and stories have hidden messages being passed to the viewers. In the paragraph below, (thesis begin) I will be explaining and breaking down what I mean by hidden messages. I will use some characters from the movie X-men First Class. These include Erik who grew up to be called Magneto who mostly use his powers to torture, torment or hurt others compared to Charles who used his powers to help people, Raven who grew up to be called Mystic, and Hank who grew up to be called Beast. One hidden message is found in Erik’s childhood and what he grew up to become. Another scene of Raven shows her insecurities about how she looks, and Hank’s insecurities about his physical looks radiate a particular message to the public.(thesis end) After watching and reading several X-men books or movies, I have come to a conclusion that the characters classified as the X-men in the book and same as the movies are not necessarily super heroes. Watching it or reading it from a kids perspective, they automatically look like super heroes because as a kid there is only one thing in...
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...The Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a novel in which the theme of savagery versus civilisation is explored. Some British boys are stranded on an isolated island at the time of an imaginary nuclear war. On the island we see conflict between two main characters, Jack and Ralph, who respectively represent civilisation and savagery. This has an effect on the rest of the boys throughout the novel as they delve further and further into savagery. The theme of savagery versus civilisation is first introduced to us through the symbol of the conch shell which we associate with Ralph as he is the person who first uses it and becomes the elected leader of the boys. This symbolises authority amongst the boys. At the first assembly Ralph says “I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak…he won’t be interrupted”. This suggests civilisation as Ralph is allowing each boy to have an equal say and opinion. If they have the conch, no matter who they are or what age they are they will be given the chance to speak and will be listened to by the rest of the boys. The boys have created the island to be a democratic place which shows a civilised side to them as they try to mimic the homes they have just left. Contrasting with the symbol of the conch is the symbol of the beast which comes to be associated with Jack as by the end of the novel he is almost devil worshipping it. The beast begins as a “snake thing” but by the end of the novel it has become “the...
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...grow as a whole as long as we keep killing each other’s youth. The youth are fighting in the wars of today many not even being able to see tomorrow. The implications that war brings a sense of supreme power and security to the Americas does not make up for the trauma, PTSD disorders, and emotional detachment issues our soldiers face at the end of the day. Trauma can be experienced one of two ways, physical being wounded or hurt on the outside or mental trauma which is experienced inside the individuals own mind. Both can affect a person’s life drastically, but it’s the mental patients that give the appearance that they have no problems, but upon further examination end up being the lives that where affected the most. In the film “In the Valley of Elah” by Paul Haggis a young woman goes to the police after her war veteran husband drowns their dog in the bathtub, believing she’ll be next only to be turned away. It is very clear that the woman’s husband is suffering from mental trauma. That is why he drowned the dog. Trauma can make you do things you never thought humane. Trauma can change your whole process of thinking. Trauma can change the life of an individual. Car accidents, terrorism, and war are just some of the few causes of PTSD. Kind of like trauma a person diagnosed with PTSD may not always look ill. In fact a person with PTSD can look like a normal everyday citizen. But their brains have been turned to mush that they cant...
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...Technology is binding the world of work and the world of home in ways that redefine what is means to be in each. Some changes are dramatic, others are subtle, but the changes are experienced in the mundane activities of everyday life. To begin this presentation I will tell you a story. This story may not reflect your own lives, but I imagine some details will have a familiar ring to them. John is a middle-aged product development manager at a high tech company in Silicon Valley. He bemoans the fact that he no longer has the kind of personnel support he had even 10 years ago. While he shares an administrative assistant with several other managers, he is now expected to handle his own communications, create his own presentations and manage his own time and financial budget. After all, he now has a PC to improve his productivity, and interactive on-line calenders to manage his time. The nature of his work means that he is in constant contact with engineers, the general managers above him, and his counterparts in different sites in his international company. He has more contact, and more in common, with his counterpart in Taiwan than the person in the next cubicle. He tries very hard not to take too much work home with him, preferring to work late on site, but the international nature of his work means he is on the phone at midnight and at dawn. He is grateful for E-mail and voice mail since they can fit his schedule. Realistically, he thinks...
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...jeopardy and this government program is a way of depressing wages. These assertions could be no farther from the truth. Advocates of additional H-1B visas are the major high tech companies in Silicon Valley such as Facebook, Microsoft, Google, and Oracle. These companies are all in favor of raising the current yearly cap and have been publicly lobbying for this. These tech companies have highly specialized jobs that domestic workers are not fit for. By bringing in foreign immigrants with these specialized skills allows these Facebook, Google, etc. to continue their innovation and growth. The tech titans of Silicon Valley are growing at such a rapid pace, the domestic job market is unable to catch up. According to Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Chief Counselor, the economy produces 120,000 new jobs per year that require STEM (Science, Technology, Engineer, & Math) skills, but colleges are only producing 40,000 STEM graduates a year.* The shortage could cause economic slowdown for these companies. The H-1B program is there to fill in the gaps. By increasing the H-1B cap, America will be attracting the best and brightest. Innovative immigrants have always been vital to America’s growth, job creation, and global competitiveness. Foreign immigrants have founded more than half of Silicon Valley start-ups creating over 450,000 jobs and generating over $52 billion in revenue. Not only...
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