Sunday, November 20, 2016

Robotics


What is Robotics?

Robotics is the study of robots. It is a branch of technology that deals with all aspects of robots' operation, design, construction, and application. This field often overlaps with electronics, computer science, and bioengineering. Isaac Asimov is responsible for being the first person to use the term "robotics" in the 40s.

Robots

Robots are machines that can be used to perform jobs. Some robots operate on their own and some robots need to be controlled by a human. They can be in any shape or size. Robots perform jobs like vacuuming, playing ping pong, and mixing drinks. They can perform jobs just as well, or even better, than humans. 


History of Robotics

The history of robotics is intertwined with the history of technology and science. Many events in history are related to robotics.
The Greek astronomer Archimedes invented many mechanical systems that are an important part of robots today. In medieval times, automatons were invented. They were human-like objects controlled by hidden mechanisms. To people, it created an illusion of self-movement. During the renaissance, the artist Leonardo Da Vinci created a humanoid automaton called Leonardo's robot. It was able to sit, wave its arms, and move its head. Over the next few centuries, people created robots that could do calculations, print designs, and pull weights. In 1921, the term "robot" was first used in a play called "Rossum's Universal Robots" (R.U.R.) written by Karl Capek. In 1942, Isaac Asimov wrote the "Three Laws of Robotics". There was also a zeroth law added later. The laws were:
1. A robot may not injure a human (or humanity), or, through inaction, allow a human (or humanity) to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with a higher order law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection conflicts with a higher order law.
0. A robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless this would violate a higher order law.
Over the next decades, more advanced robots were created and people began creating research laboratories/organizations.  In 1964 scientists began researching artificial intelligence. From then to the present, more and more complex robots have been invented and innovated upon.

Programming

Programming is a process that instructs a robot how to perform a task. It is most used in computers. It involves using a programming language to write a set of instructions of how the robot should act. Writing a program involves describing all kinds of processes and procedures. It is similar to writing down the steps to completing an action. 



Importance of Programming

Programming is an intrinsic part of robotics. A program is the instructions for the robot. Without instructions, a robot will not function. Programming is what makes a robot work. 

Programming is also important in life. Now, in the 21st century, almost everything involves robots and machines. Robots are the future. Programming is important because it will be more and more a part of the daily lives of humans. 



Bibliography

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Technological Singularity and Artificial Intelligence


What is Artificial Intelligence? 

Intelligence is defined as "the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills". Like humans, machines are intelligent. The intelligence of machines is called Artificial Intelligence (A.I.). A.I. is also related to computer programs that perform tasks using intelligence.

How did Artificial Intelligence research start?

After the second World War, people started to program computers. People decided that it was easier to program computers rather than build machines. This is how A.I. was later researched. Research made programmed computers become more and more advanced/intelligent.

Examples of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is displayed by machines like computers. Computers have speed and memory and are able to perform all kinds of commands. Computers can communicate information instantly and process data in record time. One example of A.I. is a computer being able to compose music. While this may not seem very impressive or intelligent, it is. Music is a form of self-expression. A computer does not have a "self", so it shows that the computer has a high level of intelligence. Another example of A.I. is a computer playing chess. Chess is a game of strategy and skill. Computers are able to beat the best chess players in chess with their speed and skills. A computer is able to analyze every possible move at one moment, while a human can only analyze a few moves. Computers can transmit information at up to 2.56 terabytes per second. This is still not quite as fast as a human can think, but it is still exceptionally fast.


The Debate on Artificial Intelligence

Some scientists encourage the development and progression of A.I. and others do not support it. Scientists like Hawking and Musk don't think A.I. is a good thing. Hawking says that A.I. could result in the end of the human race. Companies like Google and Apple believe that A.I. is a good and beneficial thing. Companies like these keep creating new machines and programs using A.I. An example of this is Apple's Siri.

What is the Technological Singularity? 

Technological singularity, or the singularity, is what scientists call the time when machines become more intelligent than humans. Machines are just getting more and more intelligent and their degree of intelligence will one day surpass the level of intelligence of human beings. When the singularity occurs, computers will be able to think faster than humans.

When will the Singularity occur?

There are many different predictions as to when the singularity will occur. Kurzweil predicts that the singularity will occur in 2045. Vinge predicts that it will occur sometime before 2030. Armstrong predicts that it will occur sometime between 2017 2112. Scientists may not agree on when the technological singularity will occur, but they can all agree that it is inevitable that it will occur in the near future. 

How will the Singularity occur?

Vinge predicts that the singularity will occur in one of four ways. The first possibility is that scientists develop new advancements that make computers artificially more intelligent than humans. Another way is that computers progressively get more intelligent and surpass humans' level of intelligence. The third possibility is that computer/human interfaces become so close that humans basically evolve into machines. The final possibility is that scientists find a way to engineer natural human intelligence. According to Vinge, the imminent singularity will occur in one of these four ways.


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