A group of scientists in the United Kingdom has launched an initiative designed to raise general interest in and awareness of robotics.
Dubbed Walking with Robots, this educational outreach program runs from January 2006 to December 2008 and — according to the program grant description page — intends to “…produce a prominent UK-wide campaign for promoting awareness of and interest in robotics amongst public audiences.”
In an article about the program by Ian Morgan over at 24Dash.com, Robotics Professor Noel Sharkey (from the University of Sheffield) is quoted as saying:
“Robots are coming thick and fast with robot domestics, gardeners, cooks, companions, lovers, taxis, factory workers, space explorers, soldiers, maybe police and certainly pets.
“Public concern about these new metal ‘friends’ is whipped up by science fiction, but what are the facts? Will these robots think? Will they have emotions? Will they be mentally superior to us? Could my boss be a robot? Will they take over the planet and write interesting sitcoms?
“The public need to be prepared for the revolution.”
Check out the 24Dash story or visit the Walking with Robots grant project page for more information.
While robots as sophisticated as the NS-5 from I, Robot (pictured, above) may still be many decades away, there’s no doubt that the robotics field is growing rapidly.
The Walking with Robots program is a great step by the United Kingdom to raise awareness of robotics in the general public.
Should the United States and other countries pursue similar programs to kick-start interest? Add a comment or two to this post and let us know what you think!
(Source[s]: 24Dash.com, EPSRC) – [Jeff James]
photo: © Fox
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