ABOUT  ROBITICS Abstract: This paper discusses the role of the computer as pre/semi-robotic.  Outlined are the basic actions which any robot should be able to fulfill. As one of those actions, discusses the emergence of social networks as unique response sets. The idea is carried further in positing a marriage between social networks and gaming as a base for apparent 'conscious' reaction. A companion paper deals with the development of possible rules of robotics and the parameters which must be met in terms of robotic problem solving. Index Will the real robot please stand What should a robot be able to do? Social network gaming as robotic response Thus, the social networks Gaming details Negative side to all this Will the real robot please stand. While the idea of a humanoid robot walking around doing basically what we do but better, fascinates me.  I always wanted a friend who was smarter and was programmed not to lord it over me. My only problem with this is that I would constantly have the feeling that I was boring it, that it could be doing much more interesting and productive things somewhere else and that I was breaking some self respecting robot rule by not letting him do that for which he was destined to do, somewhere else.  While I have these fantasies, the real robot of the future is sitting right in front of me. Doing all of the things which a robot should do, like: Protecting the integrity of its system by automatically downloading and installing new programs, expanding its functionality with downloads every so often, becoming smarter as I type by 'remembering' everything so it can play it back in a growing number of different formats, anticipating my usage by automatically completing addresses, words, sentences for me,  and even writing a synopsis of my stuff which sounds better than the original. When it senses that I have entered the room, it plays 'Hail To The Chief'. When I open my mouth, it records every word including the long pauses, inevitable with us humans, which it conveniently shortens, then prints out, and reads back, accompanied with a light show bringing in images which are relevant (tomorrow I must block advertising on these playbacks). What Should A Robot Be Able To Do? (A Short Introductory List) Protect itself from compromise Guard against incidental damage, destruction Maintain internal integrity Be constantly capable of doing what designed to do Use as little resources as possible in accomplishing the job Be as intuitive to handle as possible Accomplish tasks in the most efficient manner Complete tasks at the best level possible within the restrictions    of time, environmental variables, capacity, ability Be able to reconstruct past operations (learn sequences) Be able to recognize same scenario sequence for initiation     while being cognizant of differences and adapting Accept feedback and make adjustments accordingly Maintain self maintenance and alerting as to additional or timely      input from external sources Be able to integrate external resources without      reprogramming, learning. Constantly clean, or allow for cleaning, unused or outdated    resources Be capable of adding new functionality Performing all actions so as not to endanger others or the    environment Leave as small an imprint on the environment as possible. Be able to handle and react appropriately to novel input. This    we will deal with shortly. All the others are already extant in    the computer today and improving as we speak. In talking about learning and ability to react to novel input, the advent of social networks may be providing just this facility. Social Network Gaming As Robotic Response Rationale It will be some time before we will have true 'conscious' or even adequately preprogrammed robotic response to  environmental changes. In the mean time, why not use the social networking concept and gaming to provide the input  and response system to each individual robot at whatever  level of development.  With sufficient input to specific points on the exoskeleton and a modulated sound system for verbal  transfer, an appropriate environmentally, cognitively,  emotional, verbal and physical response matrix could be  created in each unique situation. The response matrix would be ever-present and universal based on hundreds, if not  thousands, of gamers available at any given point for any  given robotic system. As an offshoot of the interaction, a  memory database within each robot could store and index for  instant replay each response along with situational data so that  it could be accessed and utilized in a near fit environment in  the future, thus building a complex individual response system  for each robot. Thus, the social networks The real revolution is taking place in the realm of feedback on social networks. You may say, that's not robotics, its others interacting with you on a global scale. Like a gigantic mind set, with millions of separate nodes each responding according to their interests, proclivities, experience, wisdom right on target to what you have said or written. Yes, it is other humans interacting with you but the facility of the machine, the speed, the omnipresence of the world out there is all being channeled. Let's look at this a bit more closely. It automatically: 1 corrects your spelling (if you let it) 2 translates into your language if its different from the original,    so you're getting the machine's version and badly at that. 3 blocks images, words according to parameters set by    you, or significant others, or those in control of the    networks, or by the machines themselves having been             programmed from the beginning to filter. 4 truncates your messages according to rules set in motion    by those controlling the networks or by the recipients. 5 edits or deletes stuff if you get really obnoxious. 6 keeps a 'paper' trail which is impossible to erase. 7 politely suggests that there may be a more fruitful search if     the words used were spelled 'correctly' or differently. 8 makes selections from an array of possible participants in     your growing network which may be most conducive to you     or best fits some preset guidelines. And that community of people out there? They are judge, jury and executioner. 1. Instantly judges you either by agreeing, telling you to your    face how wrong you are, or ignoring you with supreme silence. 2. Channels what you think, feel, how you react into what it,    the group, feels is the norm in any particular situation. 3. Modifies your behavior, what you type or say by your not    wanting to look stupid after some 'expert' has said that 'this is    so', and you really do not know better. 4. In the future, this same community will be interacting with    your robot in problem solving situations or in just how to    handle you. Gaming Details Gaming to produce the best response within a particular setting. Points leading to prizes or achievement status awarded to each gamer based on criteria delineated below. Filters Barriers to certain types of behavior intelligible within context fit to physical surroundings fit to psychological atmosphere degree of accuracy as response best overall response Response is physical, verbal and 'psychological' Levels of gaming response judge of best as assessed by reaction of other(s) in setting Point System   Based on:        getting through filters        being selected as 'correct' response and used        judging          based on majority pick          adequacy of response assessed by reaction to response Anonymity or Identity protection Actual gaming arena as seen by gamers is simulation based on  input of all sensors  of robot from reality setting. The setting can be significantly different from reality as long as it contains  the basic mix needed for determining appropriate response  within the changing environmental and interaction patterning  going on in reality. The disassociation from reality would protect the identities of participants - both robot and human.  Can be several layers off of reality as long as basic emotional, physical context is  maintained and is coherent. Settings Settings or layers based on templates which are automatically selected. Reservoir of actions indexed as to environmental and interaction variable and the response selected and used.  Available for instant search and replay in near fit situations. Constant training modality. Where there is ambiguity and several responses are possible:     1 request for new input     2 random selection     3 selection based on 'psychological' or physical constructs of robot. Data transmitted in real time Coordinated physical signals to exoskeleton and verbal patterning modes to be activated in real time. And what is the negative side to all this? On the personal side, that machine sitting in front of you: Rules your free time and in some cases your life like no friend could ever do. You say you were married or think that you still are? Constantly keeps you up to date on all the news which has very little relevance to you, and in some cases wish you did not know. Keeps you (robot like) checking the email - and if you have more than one email facility, jumping from one to the other like a dog doing tricks. Threatens you with all sorts of sedentary health problems like eye strain,  deep vein thrombosis, your fingers becoming the best exercised part of your body, phasing out to everything in your immediate surroundings, putting on weight, not eating right because someone is on line only between 8 and..., loss of sleep because the other half of the world has just woken up. Is a constant reminder that you are not doing enough in your field, specialty, arena of expertise not to mention all the things you have committed yourself to doing and just do not now know where the time will come from. However, this particular robot lays the world at your feet. It connects you with everyone else, it helps you find whatever you are looking for and does it with greater and greater efficiency, it stores all of your information and the information of millions out there, as well as gradually accumulating all known or knowable facts and thinking, past and present. It responds instantly to your decisions as in gaming. It accomplishes a thousand tasks for you faster than you can think, and its capability is evolving at a phenomenal rate. To our knowledge, it does not yet have a conscience. However, in a modified framework, it is totally alive and aware.  In short, the Robot has landed and is looking at you flat in the face.   © copyright 2008 J. Morgan Thomas All rights reserved ________________ Return to TSingle home page Contact