LITR 4632: Literature of the Future

Student Future-Visions Presentation 2007

Monday, 4 June: Future-vision presenter: Holly Bailey

I, Robot: Do You Want One?

Primary Objectives:

1. To identify, describe, and criticize stories humans tell about the future:
   1. Evolutionary
   2. Apocalyptic

2. To identify typical visions of the future as seen from 2007
   1. High tech; virtual reality – Robots make living in the everyday world easier for humans.  People that take advantage of the robots live and easier life.
   2. Low tech; actual reality – Those that do not have robots are not taking advantage of the evolving technology and thus hindering advancement. 

Film:  I, Robot (2004) Directed by Alex Proyes

Show Film Clip One: Scene #9, 17:46

Summary:

It's the year 2035, and the world now has the help of robots. Robots are everywhere in this world. These robots have three laws integrated into their system. One, they cannot harm a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Two, they must do whatever they're told by a human being as long as such orders don't conflict with law one. Three, they have to defend themselves as long as such defense doesn't conflict with laws one or two.

One day, the writer of the three laws, Alfred Lanning, apparently jumps out of the tenth-floor window of U.S. Robotics. The majority of the Chicago Police Department believe that he committed suicide, but Detective Del Spooner (Smith), who is a robophobic, thinks he was murdered, and the number one suspect is a NS-5 robot, Sonny. However, if it was Sonny, then that means he would've had to have broken the three laws. Spooner must now discover the truth before it's too late. However, the robots are prevalent in almost every part of everyday life, like in cars, demolition, housekeeper, and trash pickup Spooner has to continually escape death while he reveals the truth.

Show Film Clip Two: Scene #14, 36:02 and Scene #18, 52:11

Questions to Discuss:

1. The concept of the robots being part of everyday life for humans is being pushed more and more.  Just recently robot advancement had made the news.  Parents can buy robots toys for their children.  Do you think we should continue the development of robotics?
2. The creators of the NS-5 set limits on the robots however they were still able to get around those laws.  If humans create robots with the ability to think and reason, should humans be able to put limits on their thinking and reasoning ability?
3. Do you think that robots can evolve?