Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #13764
To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: Andrew Hooper andrew@best.net.nz
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 18:02:02 -0400
Subject: Re: You guys disappoint me
> Definition of Robot.
>
> (1) A device that responds to sensory input. See under robotics.
>
> Robot was coined by Czech playwright Karl Capek in his play R.U.R
(Rossum's
> Universal Robots), which opened in Prague in 1921. Robota is the Czech
word
> for forced labor.
>
> Therefore by letter of law an LED that flashes when there is light present
> is a ROBOT
> as it detects the light and reacts to it, well actually it detects the
> light, absorbs it waits until the internal voltage is the correct level
then
> triggers.
>
> A Solaroller could also be deemed as a robot for the exact same reason,
and
> they all fall under the category of robotics as they are forced labor, the
> components on their own will not react, we need to put them together in
such
> a way that they do react and not sit there passively, since we use heat
and
> molten lead this could be deemed as a form of torture so therefore we
Force
> the components into taking on a form that serves a porpoise.
>
> The alternative for flashing an LED would be a switch that we turn on and
> off, this task in out construction is handled by the device we have
> constructed, thus automating the task by using silicon switches controlled
> by sensors.
>
> To further the argument, to create a transistor you need large amounts of
> pressure and heat, this again could be strewn as being Forceful, im sure
> silicon by nature will not operate in the way we intend to use it, it
> requires the intervention of humans.
>
> So event the most basic circuit that responds to its environment should be
> worthy of being called a ROBOT!, and classified in the field of ROBOTICS.
>
> These seemingly simple creations have a place, and as has been stated are
an
> integral part of the learning curve for creating more advanced robots.
>
> sebastiaan, what is an organism with one or more cells?, is it not a form
of
> life?
>
> Andrew Hooper
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: JVernonM@aol.com
> To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
> Date: Monday, April 17, 2000 6:44 AM
> Subject: Re: You guys disappoint me
>
>
> >In a message dated 4/16/00 1:49:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> >dave@solarbotics.com writes:
> >
> >> Hmmm. Posted at 10:47am - didn't finish your morning coffee quite yet,
eh
> >Jim?
> >Well, actually, it was after 11:37 AM here. And I had my 2 cups, thanks.
> >
> >> Other than what I've mentioned right above, I can't imagine what else
> you
> >> could be possibly referring to as the source of your grumpiness! ;>
> >Well, Dave, I'm not the only one who feels this way. I'm just one of the
> few
> >stupid enough to say so. I guess I'm still a little sore over the water
> eater
> >name that simply struck me as stonewalling. I feel that I have made some
of
> >the only progress in that area, with some fairly functional designs to
> come,
> >I mistakenly assumed that gave me some say in the matter. I was wrong. I
> >can't call them by an inaccurate name, and that's part of what I was
> saying.
> >The inaccuracy stands as normalcy, and that's just the way it is. The
> >mistakes go on from there. The two motor design is a Chiu design, not a
> >Tilden design. The popper block is a Chiu design, not a Beckingham
design.
> >You invented the popper, not Tilden. I'm not saying that you say these
> >things. I'm saying that they have become common knowledge. And no one is
> >correcting them. But, does correction really matter when Mr. T. can say
> that
> >BEAM bots will be paving roads on the moon in 3 years and no one even
> blinks.
> >Perhaps you are right Dave. Maybe I am just a grumpy old curmudgeon that
> has
> >no real contribution to make outside of unimportant rants about accuracy
> and
> >accountability. But, I don't think so. It does make it easier to
discredit
> >what I say though, doesn't it? And no brownie points for that.
> >
> >
> >See ya,
> >Jim
> >http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Exhibit/8281/beamart.html
> >ICQ# 55657870
>
Home