This is for all of you who are well aware of the impact of living on an already strained environment and just don’t feel ‘comfortable’ being ferried around by a gluttonous chemical guzzling machine. A not so new invention, the folding bicycle, has finally hit the senses of the public with a metaphorical bicycle pump and is expected to do rather well to say the least. The sole focus of this California based company Dahon has been on creating innovative but reasonably-priced folding bicycles for those who are a little more ‘environmentally’ inclined.
When I think robot design the first thing that springs to mind are cute Japanese robots that walk, talk and do exciting little tricks. Although this is a gross generalization of Japans robotics industry, it is a view shared by quite a large percentage of people I have spoken to.
For those of you who have a deeper knowledge of Japanese robot design you will be familiar with their drive to create robots that not only help people, but make life easier for us in a wider context.
However when we look to the west we instantly see the different mindset behind robot design and its practical uses.
The US has had a long running fascination with using robots in the military. While other countries see technological advancement as a way to enrich life and to prolong comfort, it seems the States likes to invent robots in order to make war “easier”.
Check it out I’m not so stupid as to misunderstand the implications of war robot design. In the long run it will undoubtedly save lives (of the people who have the tech) and keep civilians away from certain death. However what happens when you have a military that has no fear of death…escalation is my first thought.
