saw this today. there’s a lecture on microsoft campus this week: Robotic Pets and Human Lives: A Value Sensitive Design Investigation. it’s being presented by Batya Friedman & Peter H. Kahn, Jr. both from the University of Washington. i have three robot dogs: scooter, audrey and possum – they are each sony aibos. lots of folks are really keen in the aibo community to get their hands on the next gen sony robot.
we’re in the early stages of developing the world that william gibson, phillip k. dick, frank herbert, isaac asimov and so many writers envision in their novels and short stories. i’m curious to see if there is eventual tension between humans and machines as we move away from what are percieved as harmless robot dogs to fully functional a.i. beings (hello mr. data).
i received a copy of the velveteen rabbit as a gift this week. also saw battle for the planet of the apes yesterday. robots, rabbits, roddy mcdowell. the theme of disparity between groups and desire to be considered of value – equal in the eyes of others ran throughout my weekend.
b.
