Robot Stories, With a Heart

Grok Headline matches for Robot Stories, With a Heart

Wired News: Robot Stories, With a Heart

Wired News: Robot Stories, With a Heart 02/19/2004 10:02 AM
Greg Pak remembers why people wrote science fiction in the first place .. Robot Stories, With a Heart

wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,62319,00.html
track this site | 5 links

The robot heart of software

The robot heart of software 07/19/2004 02:47 PM
Isaac Asimov was one of the science fiction authors whose works I avidly consumed when I was in my early adolescence, and though even then I could tell that his writing lacked a certain level of nuance and style, I loved it for its cleverness and its imagination. Standing at the podium at science fiction conventions, expounding on any subject under the sun, he was like a polymath Woody Allen with the neurosis circuits disabled, and his optimistic rationalism -- even in the 1970s, an era during which optimism was hard to make credible -- was infectious. (Read Cory Doctorow's apprecia tion of Asimov in Wired for more.)

So I don't think I'll be able to bear going to see the new movie "inspired by" his "I, Robot" stories -- those inventive chestnuts about what happens when robots programmed with "the three laws of robotics" tangle with the chaos of human affairs. (Chris Suellentrop in Slate offers an overview of how the movie betrays Asimov that makes me feel my decision is completely logical.) But I was glad to read this editorial in the Sunday New York Times, which thoughtfully nailed exactly what made these stories such fun:

Each of the stories in "I, Robot" works out a problem in the application of these laws, usually caused by an unforeseen implication or contradiction. Asimov's robots are perfectly logical, and therefore all the real problems are caused by humans, who are shockingly unaware of the way their intentions and emotions run counter to logic. What look like manufacturing flaws in the robots nearly always turn out to be faults in the way a command was articulated. Humans, it turns out, are mainly good at bossing other humans around. Our computers remind us of this every day.

The "I, Robot" stories, in other words, are exercises in logical debugging that happen to take the form of miniature mysteries.

Saying "the real problems are caused by humans" is, of course, awfully close to saying, "It's the user's fault!" -- an excuse that conscientious software developers and designers shun. Yet, as I dig deeper into work on my book about software, I'm learning a lot more about exactly how hard it is to make the absolute logic of computing serve the messy ambiguities of human desire, when all the pressure of the undertaking is to make things work the other way -- to force us human beings to conform to the rigorous precision of machines. Asimov's wonderful stories pre-imagined this dilemma for us. Maybe someday he'll find a filmmaker who can do his particular imagination justice.

Robot Stories Movie

Robot Stories Movie 02/13/2004 09:17 AM

Robot Stories - Greg Pak Interview

Robot Stories - Greg Pak Interview 06/04/2004 08:34 PM
Robot Stories is a low budget movie billed as "science fiction from the heart". The collection of four Bradbury-style short stories is making the rounds of art house theaters around the country. Robot Stories has proven so popular in Dallas, Texas, where it's showing right now that the run has been extended another week. I got a chance to talk to Greg Pak, the writer and director, after a recent screening and he agreed to answer a few questions for the robot geeks here at robots.net. Read on for the full interview.

Woman has heart-attack on plane that
also happens to be carrying 15 heart
specialists on their way to a medical
conference

Woman has heart-attack on plane that
also happens to be carrying 15 heart
specialists on their way to a medical
conference 01/01/2004 04:27 AM
Sick airline passenger had many doctors .. You don't get any luckier than this

cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/12/31/britain.lucky.ap/index.html
track this site | 5 links

State-of-the Art Heart Auscultation
Diagnosis Tools are Highlighted on World
Heart Day

State-of-the Art Heart Auscultation
Diagnosis Tools are Highlighted on World
Heart Day 09/27/2004 02:32 AM
Biosignetics Corporation has developed and applied state-of-the art signal processing computational algorithms aiming to stimulate basic research and to teach physicians and medical students to perform “digital” heart auscultation diagnosis during the routine medical checkups. Patent pending Heart Energy Signature has a great potential to become de-facto standard to record, store, compare and track sound based heart diagnosis data. [PRWEB Sep 27, 2004]

World Heart gets big order, 20 Novacor
heart pumps for German centre

World Heart gets big order, 20 Novacor
heart pumps for German centre 02/17/2004 03:51 PM
Canadian Press via Canada.com Feb 17 2004 7:46PM GMT

Heart pump maker World Heart narrows Q2
loss but misses revised sale target

Heart pump maker World Heart narrows Q2
loss but misses revised sale target 08/14/2004 01:31 PM
Canadian Press Aug 14 2004 4:14PM GMT

If All Stories Were Written Like Science
Fiction Stories

If All Stories Were Written Like Science
Fiction Stories 09/26/2004 09:14 PM
If All Stories Were Written Like Science Fiction Stories. "Roger and Ann needed to meet Sergey in San Francisco. 'Should we take a train, or a steamship, or a plane?' asked Ann. 'Trains are too slow, and the trip by steamship around South America would take months,' replied Roger. 'We’ll take a plane.'"

A Running Robot Or A Rolling Robot?

A Running Robot Or A Rolling Robot? 12/18/2003 12:58 PM
It took years for researchers to figure out how to make a robot be able to stand and walk on two legs. In fact, it's so complicated, that some researchers are giving up on that idea and using Segway balancing technology on their robots instead of legs. However, the folks at Sony seem to have taken the concept of the upright walking robot one step further: they've figured out how to make a robot run. That's right, it actually leaves the ground at points while jogging along. It apparently needs a bit of a walking start to get up to speed, and even at running speed, it's more of a slow jog - where it's feet barely leave the ground. Still, it's a start, and with some more work, they believe they can really make the robot run.

Longmont Area Economic Council sponsors
"Company Success Stories" Forum
presented by the Colorado Software and
Internet Association; Executives from
Digital Globe, Time Warner Telecom and
Evolving Systems shared stories, advice,
lessons learned

Longmont Area Economic Council sponsors
"Company Success Stories" Forum
presented by the Colorado Software and
Internet Association; Executives from
Digital Globe, Time Warner Telecom and
Evolving Systems shared stories, advice,
lessons learned 08/30/2004 08:16 AM
The Longmont Area Economic Council (LAEC) sponsored a breakfast on August 26th hosted by the Colorado Software and Internet Association (CSIA) titled "Company Success Stories". The event was held at the Cable Center on the University of Denver campus. LAEC President and CEO John Cody moderated a panel discussion by representatives from Digital Globe, Time Warner Telecom and Evolving Systems. [PRWEB Aug 30, 2004]

I heart you, lab boy

I heart you, lab boy 02/01/2005 08:45 PM

(I heart you, lab boy, originally uploaded by ChrisJ)

Love is everywhere

Meg Follows Her Heart...

Meg Follows Her Heart... 09/15/2004 03:32 AM
...From Geek to Chef, with all good wishes from here.

I heart NYC

I heart NYC 09/01/2004 08:00 AM

This appeared in the Village Voice [via Rox Populi.]

I've been apologizing to Europeans here about these idiots - called our government. I explain that there are two Amerikas right now - the two coasts and big cities - and all the rest.

I understand rich people votinmg for Bush - and clearly they'll steal the election (liek Osama is going to be found in late october - mark my words) - but what's up with all these poor white trash, crackers and religous nuts?

Have they looked at their paychecks recently? Gas prices? Health costs? Remember the words from the song by Country Joe Fish: "be the first one on the block, to bring your boy right home in a box."

A heart apart

A heart apart 09/03/2004 11:51 AM
Bill Clinton has had a heart attack. Currently he is in a New York hospital awaiting emergency surgery.

Change of heart

Change of heart 09/18/2004 05:43 AM
USA Today Sep 18 2004 9:25AM GMT

Heart [Flickr]

Heart [Flickr] 01/05/2005 10:44 PM

mathowie posted a photo:

Heart

A Choice for the Heart

A Choice for the Heart 06/24/2005 03:02 PM
Patients are receiving less information on products that are implanted in their bodies than on the safety of their cars.

Devo Eat Your Heart Out

Devo Eat Your Heart Out 07/12/2004 12:51 PM
Whip It...Not So Good? Apparently the whip, beloved in movies, games, and other various pursuits, isn't actually that fantastic of a weapon -- at least from a defensive point of view. And that supersonic crack? It ain't the tip. Interesting!

The Savage Heart

The Savage Heart 12/10/2003 01:59 PM
Ever wonder what happened to Darth Vader right after the Death Star was destroyed? Well, wonder no more, as Dark Horse continues to try and get back on schedule with this week's release of Star Wars: Empire #14, only a week after last issue! Paul Alden and Raul Trevino's tale takes the Sith Lord to a crash landing on the planet Vaal, where he is left to fend for himself alone against the natural predators in the wilderness. However, this Dark Lord is nobody's prey! Cover by Francisco Ruiz Velasco, and this issue has been added to our Star Wars: Empire gallery.

The heart of Gauteng

The heart of Gauteng 12/11/2003 11:52 PM
Sunday Times South Africa Dec 11 2003 10:41PM ET

We have your best interests at heart

We have your best interests at heart 06/18/2004 02:36 PM
SOMA, Orgy-Porgy, Centrifugal BumblePuppy help!

"The Heart of America"

"The Heart of America" 12/19/2004 03:21 PM

Bleeding Heart 1.0

Bleeding Heart 1.0 06/16/2004 01:30 PM
A rather dark, sad theme.

Sacred Heart Goes Worldwide -- Web

Sacred Heart Goes Worldwide -- Web 12/14/2003 08:43 PM
The iMovie program is a great way for the students to enjoy getting hands-on computer experience. By Kathie Dickerson (Coshocton Tribune via MyAppleMenu)

"heart of the election battle"

"heart of the election battle" 05/12/2004 01:25 AM

a look into six apart's dark heart

a look into six apart's dark heart 08/20/2004 12:42 PM
you know how google's slogan is "don't be evil"? well...

at the heart of so much human misery

at the heart of so much human misery 05/04/2004 07:48 AM
Kass or Nussbaum on Disgust? .. more» .. more

boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2004/05/02/you_stink_there fore_i_am?pg=full
track this site | 5 links

Beyond the EKG, to a Hypersensitive
Heart Monitor

Beyond the EKG, to a Hypersensitive
Heart Monitor 04/21/2004 09:03 PM
A new computer-based method delivers far more detailed information about the electrical activity of the heart.

Web Winners | Matters of the heart on
the Web

Web Winners | Matters of the heart on
the Web 09/09/2004 03:06 AM
Philadelphia Inquirer Sep 9 2004 7:32AM GMT

Heart treatment from a distance

Heart treatment from a distance 08/11/2004 06:31 AM
A device implanted in the chest could help doctors treat heart rhythm problems remotely by computer.

Bill Clinton's heart

Bill Clinton's heart 09/09/2004 11:07 AM

On the news, they're saying Bill Clinton will be fully recovered in two-three months. Not true. My doctors told me that full recovery would actually never come, that you never get as good as new, but that's okay, because the bypass surgery saved my life.

The rule my doctors told me, which proved to be right in my case, is that after one month you're halfway back, then after two months, three-quarters, and so on. A year after the surgery you're functioning pretty well, in fact probably better than you were before the surgery, because your heart wasn't working very well beforehand.

Another thing that seems to be true for all bypass survivors is that they put off seeing the heart doctor long after they know they have a problem. I explained this to a friend this way. Up to that point in your life you had worked through every physical problem through exercise, diet and rest, and it worked; esp muscle ills (the heart is a muscle). But this is the first time for many people (it was for me, and probably for Clinton too) that you couldn't exercise your way back to health. I think a lot of people die because of ths mistake. If you feel chest pain, go to the doctor, asap. It used to be a death sentence, a couple of generations ago, but now, it's a pretty normal procedure to fix the clogged coronary arteries.

That Clinton was striken with this, of course is not good news for him, but it is good news for everyone else (and maybe it will be good for him too). I didn't know that Henry Kissinger had bypass 20 years ago, as did Dick Cheney. They're still walking around. Now what my cardiologist said makes more sense. He said I should think of my lifespan in decades, not years. I didn't really believe it, but now I do. Knock wood, praise Murphy, I am not a lawyer, etc.

Anyway, getting a good look at your mortality, up close and personal, can make for great transformations. I was able to visualize my own death so clearly, I decided to accept it, and act as if I had died. I did what my heirs would have done with my belongings, I filled four dumpsters and sold the house, but I kept the money. I went to Harvard, a great move, and then after 1.5 years, went on the road. No regrets.

One thing you learn after visualizing your own death, is that if people cared a bit about what you think while you're alive, you can be absolutely sure they won't care what you thought (past tense) after you're dead. So why bother caring what you think while you're alive. So much time is wasted trying to prove you're right. You're not right, neither am I.

On my travels I met a couple struggling in their marriage. They told me their story. It was pretty personal. Afterwards, processing the conversation, I realized one thing. How much happier they would be if they stopped caring about being right. Having a lover who wants to be with you can be a totally joyous thing, but people make it so complicated. Do yourself a favor, write off the idea of being right, and just seek pleasure and helping other people, esp the person you love, and by all means help yourself. You may have decades, but they'll pass pretty quickly, might as well have some fun?

Now back to Bill Clinton. Having bypass unlocked all this energy for me, and look what I've done with the new chance I got. Now imagine the power that Bill Clinton has, one of a handfull of livng ex-presidents, a rich man, with nothing but possibilities. He could really make a difference. I remember hearing him speak at Davos in 2000, he was an inspiration. Find a shared vision, he said. Indeed. A man of Clinton's power, freed of any idea that what he thinks means anything, could really make a difference, and I think he will. But give him a year to work through all the michegas, emotional and physical, before he's ready to resume his place in the world, fully.

New heart villain seen (USATODAY.com)

New heart villain seen (USATODAY.com) 01/06/2005 09:08 AM
USATODAY.com - Two leading research groups independently reported today that lowering blood levels of a protein that promotes artery inflammation is just as important as reducing bad cholesterol for preventing heart attacks and strokes.

Linux gets heart transplant with 2.6.0

Linux gets heart transplant with 2.6.0 12/18/2003 02:11 AM
Top programmers release a major update to Linux, version 2.6.0, a change that's expected to help carry the open-source operating system into new markets.

Confusing your heart with your dick

Confusing your heart with your dick 09/12/2004 08:07 PM
When you hold a moment of silence for 9/11, it's good to stand with your hand on your heart. But if you're the President, you reach for your crotch.

Clinton recovering after heart op

Clinton recovering after heart op 09/06/2004 08:08 PM
Former US President Bill Clinton's heart bypass operation is successful, say doctors in New York.

EDS' change of heart

EDS' change of heart 03/19/2005 02:32 AM
ZDNet Mar 19 2005 6:36AM GMT

Bless Leucadia's Heart

Bless Leucadia's Heart 08/19/2004 03:28 PM
S&P downgrades Leucadia's credit because of its increased industry risk to the telecom sector.

Change of Heart at SunGard

Change of Heart at SunGard 03/22/2005 04:54 PM
SunGard thought about splitting itself up; now it looks like management wants to sell everything.
Grok Description matches for Robot Stories, With a Heart
GrokA matches for Robot Stories, With a Heart

"I, Robot"

"I, Robot" 07/16/2004 08:21 AM
Will Smith has one hot bod, but is that enough to overcome this futuristic flick's edifice complex?

What Sex is Your Robot?

What Sex is Your Robot? 05/06/2004 10:05 AM

Wow Robot KHR-1

Wow Robot KHR-1 07/07/2004 08:04 AM

< img src="http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/images/khr01.jpg" alt="khr01.jpg image" width="141" height="250" class="borderyes" border="0" align="right" vspace="5" hspace="15"/>I don't know everything about this $1,450 'KHR-1' kit from Korean firm Wow Robot, but just from watching the video I can put together that this little humanoid bot can kick (soccer-style), shuffle step, pick itself up off the floor, and assume any number of badass fighting poses. All 17 different joints are powered by a single motor, and there is even software to pre-script the movements on your computer and play them back again and again. Probably a little out of most casual robotics fans' price range, but for those that really like contributing to our species' ultimate destruction, you know, on the side, the Wow Robot is a lot of cybernetic doom for not a lot of cash. (Thanks, Soonkack!)
< b>Read - Product Page (Korean) [WowRobot]

Related
AgBots: Robots On the Farm [Gizmodo]

Robot Sex

Robot Sex 05/06/2004 05:17 PM
Simson Garfinkel has written a new Technology Review article on the subject of Robot Sex - not sex as in robot procreation but as in robot gender. Is your robot a male or female? It turns out Honda thinks Asimo is a male and consistently refers to it as "he". The Roomba, on the other hand, is female according to the author. The article also mentions the Neiman Marcus his & her robots which included a male and female robot. There's a related Slashdot discussion.

I not Robot

I not Robot 07/21/2004 02:59 PM
Scott Rosenberg cites the NY Time's nailing of what's so wonderful about the original I, Robot stories, and then adds his own contemplations. Unlike Scott, though, I'm going to see the movie. I think of it as meeting someone named Abe Lincoln. Just a coincidence....

Run, robot, run

Run, robot, run 12/18/2003 01:05 PM
ZDNet Dec 18 2003 12:12PM ET

I, Robot

I, Robot 07/17/2004 07:52 AM
IRrobotMovie.com [Release Date 2004-07-16] .. that upcoming Will Smith movie .. new film version of I, Robot .. back to fiction .. website .. movie .. Robot

irobotmovie.com
track this site | 5 links

"I, Robot "

"I, Robot " 07/18/2004 09:48 PM

Yo, robot

Yo, robot 06/13/2004 08:59 AM

"I Robot Now"

"I Robot Now" 12/23/2003 03:23 PM

I Robot Now

I Robot Now 12/23/2003 07:18 AM
I want one of these .. fully automated .. Yeah, right .. NS-5 robot .. iRobotNow .. assistant

irobotnow.com/index.php
track this site | 4 links

You, Robot

You, Robot 12/22/2004 01:24 AM
It's been a while since we mentioned Hans Moravec but a new Scientific American article turns out to be just what we needed. The article gives an update on his company, Seegrid Corporation, and the robot vision system they've been developing. Along the way he talks about the growth of raw computing power from the bacterium-level ENIAC to the modern guppy-level desktop PC.

Robot roll out

Robot roll out 04/29/2004 10:25 AM

one-on-one robot battles

one-on-one robot battles 08/21/2004 07:11 AM
Video 3.90MB MPEG .. 2

pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2004/0810/robo84.mpg
track this site | 3 links

Monkey & Robot

Monkey & Robot 08/22/2004 05:39 PM
Like many others, I think that (1) Monkeys and (2) Robots are interesting. This has already been around the web, but serious monkey fans need to check out Jill Greenberg's monkey portraits. As for Robots, this is one I bought in Japan....

SXSW: The Robot Ate Me

SXSW: The Robot Ate Me 03/22/2005 04:44 PM
An utterly bizarre and memorable show that cut through the SXSW industry facade.

Yet Another Robot Platform

Yet Another Robot Platform 12/14/2003 06:52 AM
Update...

Robot Revolution!

Robot Revolution! 07/27/2004 01:18 PM
Here's a gallery of Joe Alterio's agitprop for the Robo-Equality Party. Digital prints on archival paper are $40 to $100 depending on the size. Link (Thanks, Lin dsay!)

Robot Protest

Robot Protest 05/21/2004 12:57 AM

noonelikesyou.net/TFT-robots
track this site | 5 links

nandBot IRC Robot

nandBot IRC Robot 04/24/2004 12:52 PM
nandBot 0.51 released!

Robot to fix the Hubble

Robot to fix the Hubble 08/11/2004 09:45 AM

My first thought is are they smoking crack. NASA has gave the go ahead to fix the Hubble with a Robot. How in the hell are they going to do that and have enough lift capacity to get it there all in one launch. I know they went to Mars but getting a robot to fix Hubble has me wondering if they can really pull this off. [BBC]< /p>

Robot Rover 1.1

Robot Rover 1.1 08/12/2004 10:15 PM
A 3D game where you have to pick up gold coins with your moon rover.

Robot Portraiture

Robot Portraiture 09/03/2004 11:51 AM
Birth of a Robot Painting.
Steve at The Sneeze had an idea for a painting: "a real life battle between the toy classic Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots."
Eric Joyner happens to paint robots -- tin robots, to be exact, waging wars against giant donuts and exploring ancient ruins.
It was a match made in heaven.

Robot librarian

Robot librarian 07/21/2004 11:20 AM
Researchers at Universitat Jaume I in Spain are designing a robot librarian of sorts. The three-wheeled bot listens for verbal book requests, heads to the approximate location of the title on a shelf, and uses digital cameras to read the spines. The toughest challenge is engineering a grasper with "fingernails" to pull out the book, Professor Angel del Pobil told the BBC:

"It is mimicking the way we manipulate our hands. We have constant feedback from tactile sensors, so it is moving very slowly. In the first experiments, the books really got damaged because it was pressing too hard. Now it touches gently."

Link

Toyota's new robot

Toyota's new robot 12/31/2003 02:27 PM
It's still awhile off, but Toyota's planning to introduce a new humanoid robot at the Aichi World Exposition in 2005 that will be able to...

Robot Dog, One of, Field Use

Robot Dog, One of, Field Use 01/07/2004 01:56 PM
The US Army TACOM group is spending $2.25 million on research projects aimed at building robot dogs that can carry a soldier's field equipment and keep up with the soldier over any terrain. Right now, each man has to carry up to 100 pounds of ammunition, food, and equipment. The long term challenge is making a four legged robot that can move as fast and quietly as a man over any terrain. The immediate challenge is making a four legged robot big enough for the job that doesn't fall over and doesn't need an internal combustion engine for power. For more, see Noah Shachtman's interesting article on the program in Wired.

I, Robot (2004)

I, Robot (2004) 07/19/2004 09:29 AM

Guido van Robot 0.9.1

Guido van Robot 0.9.1 02/16/2004 02:51 PM
GvR is an interactive, introductory programming language.

Robot Forensics

Robot Forensics 04/21/2004 09:05 PM
Several readers alerted us to Roland Piquepaille's latest weblog entry about a robot equipped with a device that allows it to take fingerprints from suspicious packages that would normally have to be destroyed by bomb disposal teams. Photos and a detailed description of the new device, known as the "Robot Accessory for Fuming Fingerprint Evidence" or RAFFE, can be found in a paper (PDF format) presented in the March 2004 of the Journal of Forensic Sciences. There is also a related Slashdot article.

Robot Stories, With a Heart

The following phrases have been identified by the grok system as matching this entry: rationalism "i robot"