An Automated Society
1 There was a time when robots and home automation were just a fantasy. Robots were found only in science fiction and home automation was limited to cartoon families who had every convenience at their fingertips. Meals arrived with a simple push of a button. A robot maid performed every task humans didn't care to do. Today, these once visionary ideas have become reality.
A cartoon shows a man being served something to drink by a robot maid
2 In factories, robots perform hazardous tasks; in homes, they vacuum the floor. Houses can now lock themselves and lights are programmed to turn off and on automatically. In hospitals, doctors use robots to perform surgery. Cars that drive themselves are in development. As automated machines and robots take on more human tasks, there are serious questions to consider. What will become of society if robots do all the work? Will humans become too dependent on machines and lose the ability to do things for themselves? Will robots eventually become smarter than humans?
What Are Robots?
3 Karel Capek, a Czech writer of science fiction, is credited with coining the word robot, derived from a Czech word meaning “forced labor.” Generally, however, the term robot refers to any machine that is able to perform a complex task on its own, but whose actions or tasks are controlled by human programming.
The First Robots
4 Robots have been around longer than many people realize. Archytas, who lived in Greece over 2300 years ago, is believed to have created the first robot. Archytas built a steam-powered mechanical bird that was able to flap its wings and fly over 200 yards.
5 However, it was not until the late 1700s, with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, that the world saw the large-scale use of more complex machines. Mechanization took another leap during the 1930s, when machines were introduced into many workplaces in order to increase productivity. Instead of hiring workers to perform tasks on an assembly line, factory owners used automated machines that could do the work of several people.
6 Then, in 1954, George Devol created the Unimate, a robotic arm. The Unimate began working on the assembly line at General Motors in 1961, taking on unpleasant, dangerous, and repetitive tasks. This robotic worker had many advantages over human workers. The Unimate did not require a salary, followed company rules, and never called in sick (although it did require the occasional repair). In addition, the Unimate could work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Manufacturers that used the Unimate and other industrial robots saw a marked increase in productivity and a decrease in labor costs.
A photo shows a large robotic arm working on a factory assembly line
7 With the rise of industrial robots, many unskilled laborers lost their jobs. A single robotic “arm” or “hand” could do the work of several humans. Robots could work faster and more accurately. They did not get tired or lose concentration.
Automated Systems
8 The rise of automated systems has also cost workers jobs. Automated systems use machines to perform tasks once done by humans. Unlike industrial robots that weld, paint, or assemble products, automated systems do not have specific tasks. Instead, they allow humans to conduct business transactions unassisted. Thanks to automated systems, people can do their banking at ATMs; buy products from automated kiosks; and purchase their groceries using a self-service checkout line—all without the help of humans.
A photo shows a businessman using self-service kiosk
Androids: Robots of Tomorrow
9 Unlike industrial robots that perform specific functions, and unlike automated systems that work with humans, android robots are made to look and act like humans; they are often called humanoid robots. Android robots have been in development since the 1980s. Japanese engineers were the first to design a walking robot. Early models had bodies with arms, legs, and a head, but they did not look much like humans. In 2000, Japanese engineers presented their latest model, ASIMO. ASIMO is a humanoid robot that can perform many human activities, such as walking, running, and grasping objects. A camera inside its head allows the robot to “see.”
A photo shows a small walking robot
10 While robots do not yet possess common sense or creativity, the day may soon come when they will. Humans are hard at work creating more and more intelligent androids. Can humans someday create a robot whose intelligence surpasses our own? Will super-intelligent androids obey their human programmers? Or will they make their own decisions? These are issues that are no longer limited to science fiction. Today, they are science fact.
A photo shows a human-looking robot holding a tablet with medical information
Which sentence from the passage is a major supporting detail?
A)This robotic worker had many advantages over human workers. (paragraph 6)
B)Automated systems use machines to perform tasks once done by humans. (paragraph 8)
C)Unlike industrial robots that weld, paint, or assemble products, automated systems do not have specific tasks. (paragraph 8)
D)The rise of automated systems has also cost workers jobs. (paragraph 8)