Robots and Humans (+Video)

Robots Exhibition at the Science Museum, London from Karen Andrews on Vimeo

Cute toys? Job thieves? Creepy threats to mankind? Robots, the Science Museum's latest exhibition, introduces many topical preoccupations.

As you stand in the lobby queue for your timed entry slot, you see two cute, toy-like robot ticket desks. One desk was initially unmanned on my arrival; the other had a long queue. 

You see a 3-tiered bank of robot eyes on your right as you wait. 

No-one paid much attention. 

Then, creepily... the eyeballs moved.



The first exhibit inside the entrance catches everyone by surprise. An animatronic baby raises a mix of emotions in visitors. So life-like. The eyes have the knowing look of an old soul seen in some new-borns. It moves like a baby. And yet, something is missing. 

Visitors stand back from the animatronic baby

The movements have a controlled pattern. No welling maternal instinct rushes to rescue the helpless creature from its stake on the wall. As blue lights change to pink and pink to blue, the urge is to step back and away instead.

Why? What makes a human baby such a unique creation? So utterly helpless at birth and yet a powerful learning machine. So determined without programming, yet some personality traits seem 'built in' from birth - or even before.

Close-up of animatronic baby in Robots Exhibition

The Science Museum's Robots Exhibition takes you on a journey: Man's 500-year quest to make robots human. It leaves you asking questions about the current direction of robotics. It leaves you marvelling at the unique creation that is every single human baby.

Single-shuttle loom

The exhibition is divided into 5 sections representing 5 different periods in the history of automation. 

The first section is called 'Marvel'. It shows Man's early attempts at automation. 

The second section 'Obey' presents the Industrial Revolution. It turned men into robots, servants of the machine.

The first recognisable robots appear in the 'Dream' section. Many are film creations of an imagined future. Some are cute; some are downright scary. Many are mere toys.

...And nothing can possibly go ... worng...

Scientists take over from the film-makers in the 'Build' section. The obsession to recreate ourselves as machines reaches new heights. Researchers' efforts demonstrate the complexity of our bodies and minds. 

Coordinating vision, recognition, reaction & movement - tough for a robot

The sophistication gradually increases. Many robots in this section are not complete. We see an arm or a hand.  They still cannot match smooth, instantaneous human movements. 

Sophisticated robotic hands are no match for human hands

The final section is entitled 'Imagine'. The robots on display are very recent productions for a museum. Robothespian dates from 2016. Science is moving so fast. AI's more recent and advanced developments are not on display. 

As children and adults interact with the robots, many of today's concerns become apparent. The UK's Robothespian is irritating; the Italian robot shows off; the Japanese news-reading robot is unnerving. Pepper, the French companion robot, is so popular that a crowd forms tightly around her.

UK's Robothespian of 2016

There are safety issues. Each robot is sectioned off from other robots and the public. Industrial robots can now work collaboratively with humans. Robots aren't toys any more.

Toyota's Human Support Robot

No single robot seems to combine all human activities and brain power as yet. It would need to be huge to do so. Remember the size of the original mainframe computers? Miniaturisation will come. 

It is proposed that robots should become care-providers for the young and elderly - i.e. the most vulnerable in society. Do we want or need that?

Young children and the elderly with dementia are unpredictable. The mobility, determination and unpredictability of  a news commentator's children went viral on Twitter this week. Are robots a match for this?

I also saw a video of children 'playing' with Alexa this week. They were running rings around her by proposing fake shopping list items. We would call it bullying, if Alexa were human.

How will we prevent artificial intelligence from learning how to bully? Do robots really need to take a human form?

Past Blogs on Robotics:

Robotics in the Media: Science Museum Lates – Part 1

Robotics and Ethics: Science Museum Lates – Part 2

Intelligent Robots: Science Museum Lates – Part 3

Karen Andrews is a freelance French to English translator, transcreator, content writer and editor. She has a strong background in global marketing.

Email Karen for further information via karenanglicityen@gmail.com in French, German or English.

Avoiding the Black Hole

Black hole terminology like event horizon and singularity is now commonly applied to the translator. Is doom on the horizon? Or are there options to redirect and reinvent the profession?

Resistance is futile
A few words from Imperial College London's 100th Anniversary celebration of Einstein's Theory of Relativity have stuck in my mind. When heading for a black hole, you will meet your doom faster if you resist.

Personally, I prefer to spot the black hole on the horizon and redirect my spaceship well in advance.

Higher status
There is no argument that the translation profession is going through a major disruption. I agree that the role of today's translator will no longer exist. However, my past experiences as a translation project manager and marketing manager tell me that many issues will continue. Clients will still need to turn to language experts for creativity and cultural guidance. Tomorrow's "translator" should be freed from much drudgery to perform at a higher level with a higher status.

Robotics
At the AsLing Translating and the Computer Conference in November 2015,  we saw that familiar video of robots falling over all the time. Just one month later, the Boston Dynamics Christmas video showed some sure-footed robot "reindeer".

Microsoft
Resistance and a policy of non-cooperation isn't going to prevent further progress. Not all progress in our field is unwelcome. I was impressed by the live demonstration of Skype Translator by Microsoft's Will Lewis. It wasn't perfect. It was FUN in capital letters. It wasn't high level interpretation. It was for those inane conversations that we all have with our friends. We say very little in real terms. Yet we end up with a warm fuzzy feeling and a big smile on our faces.

Applications for the deaf
More importantly Microsoft work has educational applications of great significance for the deaf. We saw the difference that the system made to a deaf boy's education.

The most moving session at ITI's 2015 Conference for me involved the British Sign Language (BSL) Panel. It was an eye-opener about how poorly served the deaf community are. Even the BSL that we see on TV is poor because it lacks emotion. One of the deaf panellists described finally understanding what theatre is about after seeing excellent platform interpreting for the first time. Her description brought tears to the eyes.

Any technology that improves the lives and participation of the deaf community is to be encouraged in my view.

Shape the future
My takeaway from the AsLing Conference is that translators should shape rather than resist the future. Our professional lives are being taken over by technology. That technology is not always robust and reliable. The Internet of Things will surround us with embedded sensors. The IT world will have to launch products that are more robust with greater interoperability than at present.

More user-friendly
Rather than resisting, I would recommend that translators demand more user-friendly technologies. Keep IT developers busy doing what would make our working day easier and more productive. Please be kinder to our eyes, hands, necks, backs. Seek developments that assist rather stifle our creativity.

Addictive CAT tools
At Elia Together, I jokingly asked Kilgray to make CAT tools as addictive as online games for teenagers. It seems that my request isn't such a joke. You don't know what might be possible unless you ask. Anyone fancy virtual reality translating?

CPD
Our world is changing so fast that it is hard to keep up. This disruption is affecting everyone not just the translation community. I am a great believer in investing in my own CPD. To avoid the black hole on the event horizon, I have recently enrolled for the IDM Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing at the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing. I have always preferred to do something rather theorise about a future threat.

What's your plan to avoid the black hole?

 © spacestock 

What can blogs learn from Rembrandt?

Anglicity continues the recent blog and art themes. Two pictures particularly captured my attention at London's National Gallery recently. Both were Rembrandts: just two portraits of old age cast in a warm light. What can modern-day blogs learn from Rembrandt?

The traditional press release has been done to death. Everyone knows the formula: a few paragraphs and a quote or two. Every company tries to get its flattering viewpoint across. Spin results. Journalists become cynical. Their editors need to sell papers. Cue exaggeration and sensationalism. Research scientists complain*. The merits of human creative translation go ignored. The world is fascinated with the latest technology. It glosses over any imperfections and social concerns.

Many have turned to blogs to get their viewpoints across to the Media and public. How do you stand out? After subprime mortgages and the financial crisis, the public is suspicious. Spin makes readers switch off. Honesty works best.

Rembrandt's pictures expose the cares and wrinkles of old age. The light is warm and kind. It is possible to tackle difficult issues in blogs. The warmth of a true and honest portrait or story can shine through. Much like the warm light in a Rembrandt.

* See Anglicity's Robotics in the Media

Karen Andrews runs
Anglicity Ltd. She is
an entrepreneurial
content writer and
marketing consultant.

Contact

karen@anglicity.com 
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