It is fascinating to consider the role of robotic devices in the modern age of industrialization. Although it may be argued that robots will never be able to replicate the intricacies of human intelligence, robotic devices can help humans in many aspects of life, including: by manufacturing goods, by providing services to humans, by providing captivating visual art, and by helping to educate humans.
One important aspect that robotic devices can provide is a nontraditional form of visual art, as Benjamin Walter postulates, “The uniqueness of a work of art is inseparable from its being imbedded in the fabric of Tradition” (Walter 2). For my Film and Television class here at UCLA, one assignment was to watch and analyze an episode of the futuristic science fiction television series Westworld. This episode featured a futuristic view of society set in a traditional Western film location. This film is a form of visual art that allows the audience to ponder a futuristic society in which robots essentially take over the role of humans. Here, robots play a role by being the major part of a work of art; however, the robots in this film give a glimpse into the future of technology and society.
Westworld
Reference: photo from https://www.vulture.com/2016/10/westworld-ask-a-futurist.html
Another factor that robots can assist in is the manufacturing of goods. Many places of employment are considering implementing robotic devices to help bring down labor costs and perform tasks more efficiently in the modern world, as I have seen from personal experience. For instance, Chipotle Mexican Grill is now testing a robot named “Chippy,” which can produce chips with the natural variations in taste that occur when chips are made by human employees.
Dr. Robot
Reference: photo from http://www.robots.org/
Reference: photo from https://www.arduino.cc/
Hello! You brought up many interesting points. I enjoyed that you mentioned robots in a couple different ways. I found the part of Chipotle super wild. You also mentioned Westworld, from your film class. I believe I also took this class. The uncanny similarities between the film's robot figures versus human figures in the film felt very uncomfortable. Robots have become this entity that can achieve the unthinkable, especially when adding in artificial intelligence to the mix.
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