Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Humanoid Robots, or Robotic Humans? (part 2)


Even though technology does sometimes separate us, it is also bridging distances we never could traverse before. Sometimes I video-chat with my parents, who live on the other side of the U.S. In other instances, I conduct business through online-conference video-chats. When my family was across the ocean for a European vacation, we were able to text, send photos and videos, and even talk over the internet for free using our smartphones. It is no wonder that some companies are developing new ways to connect people and make their long-distance experience feel more personal. One group has developed a robotic hand made of silicon and sponge, which can be heated to body temperature and is embedded with pressure sensors. This hand can remotely transmit someone's handshake to make that video conference feel even more personal and to keep that “human element” there. Another robotic device called the Kissenger is able to convey the kiss of a long-distance lover through Skype and other internet chat programs. If you're not creeped out by this yet, you're not really thinking about the implications of this kind of “technology.”

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