Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #03502



To: beam@corp.sgi.com
From: JVernonM@aol.com
Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 01:56:05 EDT
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Evolution Comparison


In a message dated 5/22/99 1:24:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
hannah@nanospace.com writes:

> I agree that such robots are advances, but they are a far cry from the
> predictions made years ago (what was the name of that "robot" at the worlds
> fair?). Robotic dogs and vacuums are cool to some of us, but mainstream
> society won't be flocking to by them when they come out.
I agree. The evolution will be slow. Only the affluent will benefit at first.
But the automative industry was the same. It eventually achieved the goal,
however. If you consider the speed of the timetable from as soon as 20 years
ago, I think it obvious that serious advancement is just around the corner.

> I doubt many people
> will spend $375 for a vacuum when a $150 will do. Sure, some will like the
> novelty factor, but not the majority.
I have to disagree on that one. The price of a quality vacuum is comparable
to the robotic version within 50 dollars on some brands. As to the majority
appeal, again I compare it to our most successful personal machine to date,
the automobile. Everyone could get around fine in Yugos, but they don't. The
company went under because the novelty and status of ownership of certain
machines is extremely desirable by the majority. Come on, don't you really
prefer a Firebird that costs 10,000 more than the Yugo? We are beasts of
status and prestige, capitalism is based on that fact.
> Robots (including BEAM) definately
> have a future in society, I just don't see it coming soon.
That is the question we will all see answered one way or the other very soon.
> Should we focus
> BEAM projects towards practicality? Sure, definately. But more is needed
> than that. A society where people enjoy using computers, but can't do a
> thing when the computers stop working, isn't ready for robots as some of us
> picture them. But hey, I don't mind the money I get for fixing the
problems.
>
Yes, but they love those computers, and those VCRs they can't program.
Doesn't matter. If the demand is there, the market will expand and the bots
will truly begin to evolve. Entire industries will spring up as support
structures to repair, surplus, and reprogram robots. After-market utopia.
Beamer heaven!
Jim

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