Robots: From Science Fiction to Technological Revolution.DANIEL ICHBIAH Many people know that the word robot came from rabota, meaning servant or serf serf, under feudalism, peasant laborer who can be generally characterized as hereditarily attached to the manor in a state of semibondage, performing the servile duties of the lord (see also manorial system). , coined in 1921 by Czech writer Karel Capek Noun 1. Karel Capek - Czech writer who introduced the word `robot' into the English language (1890-1938) Capek in his play "R.U.R." But the history of robots goes much further back. Some of the earliest ones, called automata automata - automaton , were built in the early 1800s with clockwork mechanisms. From these first examples to the cutting edge of invention today to speculation about the future, author Ichbiah describes the many exquisite and banal machines that can be called robots. He includes interviews with scientists, inventors, writers, toy makers, artists, and others. The realms he covers include science fiction and the worlds of industry, medicine, the military, and entertainment. The book, translated from French, includes a brief guide to robots in movies and books and is ideal for anyone interested in robotics robotics, science and technology of general purpose, programmable machine systems. Contrary to the popular fiction image of robots as ambulatory machines of human appearance capable of performing almost any task, most robotic systems are anchored to fixed positions and especially in the history of that field. Harry N. Abrams, 2005, 544 p., color photos & illus. hardcover, $37.50. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion