On the right: the XOS combat chassis, developed by Raytheon Sarcos to augment the American soldier of the future; can bench 200 lb weights till he gets bored; flexible enough to go up and down steep inclines, and strong enough to punch your head clean off. May come with bulletproof armor plating and sharp stabbing hooks. Available exclusively to the military. (video)
On the left: HAL exoskeleton, developed by Cyberdine and Japanese roboticist Dr. Sankai; can lift a paralyzed man to the summit of the Swiss Alps; carries your grandmother down the stairs; controlled by nerve impulses; helps paralyzed or weakened people to walk again. Comes with a 5 hour battery. Anyone can rent this for $2000 a month! (video, video)
Who do you think would win in this fight? Obviously, the killer military machine, right? Don't be so sure. Doesn't the HAL suit remind you of something? Maybe a story that we all know and love:
A gawky and oppressed teen finds shiny robotic suit. It transforms nerd into superhero. He stops criminals and saves babies and rescues stranded commuters. At the end, he faces down the nasty bully who has been slapping him around for years, and somehow the bully had gotten hold of the battlesuit that looks like a Terminator. It's David vs. Goliath. I think we all know how that fight should turn out.
This scenario brings up the issue of image and narrative. We have learned so many associations and stories that we can't help but draw connections when we contact something new. A piece of technology is not just a collection of functions; it speaks to us, to our subconscious. Apple, for example, is a master of this technique: merging function with personality.
If we hope to make smooth strides in living with any new forms of technology, we should pay attention to the public perception of it.
Article: Cyborg Exoskeletons May Soon Become as Common as Bicycles
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment