Annotation paragraph

Elise Kennedy

     Robots have existed for years and have a significant impact on society. Each robot has a specific purpose which determines its importance and value in the world.  The first robot built in 1939 by Westinghouse Electric was Elektro the Moto Man.  Elektro appeared at the World’s Fair.  Comprised of motor and gears this robot could move its mouth, arms and hands.  Elektro could move forward and backwards repeating voice commands however he could not perform any useful work (Lovine 2).  Elektro demonstrated mainly the awe of electricity, a popular exhibit providing entertainment.  In 1939 Creator J.M. Barnett said “No engineer would ever be so ridiculous as to imagine that any robot could ever take the place of man.” (Skurzynski 9). It seems ironic that in 1939 an engineer of a robot that resembled a human felt that strongly in saying such words and today in the year 2011 this concept still holds true.  Although robots have made significant advances there is still no robot in existence that has replaced a human being. Robot is a Czech word meaning “worker” (Lovine 1).  Mechanical creatures actually have been around for many years, running on springs, pegs, and cogs (Skurzynski 7).  Robots continue to evolve and emerge into machines and the use of compressed air to provide power along with hydraulic systems to lift weight has been incorporated into their functioning levels giving rise to industrial robots; robots that do not resemble humans or any other living creature (Skurzynski 10-12).  It is apparent that robots do not have to look like humans to act like humans.  In one sense these robots seemed to replace humans at certain jobs by doing work that humans disliked-the hot, heavy hazardous jobs (Skurzynski 16). In the 1960’s the invention of electronic brains also known as computers made another advance for the robot industry.  In fact today all robots are instructed by computers (Skurzynski 17).  It is now safe to say that not all robots take on a humanlike form.  There is a considerable range of types of robots all specific to its function.  Some robots may perform a human task such as putting a disk into a computer for a disabled individual by merely using a voice command.  In order to perform this specific function the robot must be instructed to do so.  Karen G. Engelhardt, a research scientist at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania hopes to invent a robot to assist elderly and disabled people.  She envisions a robot arm reaching down from a ceiling track for patients to use in ambulation down hallways (Skurzynski 28).  This type of robot will perform a task when the arm is turned on to operate.  Robots work hard at performing all types of jobs.  It is fair to say that robots truly can perform human tasks and can be used to assist in helping human beings.  In 1960 research led to the invention of Ole, a robot created to perform surgery on the human brain.  In order for Ole to perform he must be guided by a human surgeon however his function is superior to that of the human as his capacity to insert the biopsy needle is most accurate and stable.  The human hand has a pulse in each fingertip which could cause disturbances to the brain tissue (Skurzynski 39).  The question regarding whether a robot will ever replace an entire human being still remains.  Robots certainly have the ability to work for and with humans to enhance performance of many tasks.  It is the combination of human control and robot intelligence that enables robots of all types to operate and function specifically to the job that they are created to do making each robot unique (Skurzynski 49).  Robots have enhanced the quality of life for human beings; they serve a diversity of populations as well as functions in society.

Works Cited

Lovine, John.  Robots, Androids, and Animatrons.  New York, NY:  McGraw-Hill

     Companies, 2002.  Print.

 
Skurzynski, Gloria.  Robots Your High-Tech World.  New York, NY:  Bradbury Press,
     1990.  Print.