As robot scientists make machines more human, Kevin Warwick is going bionic. He's implanting a computer-controlled silicon chip into his arm that's plugged into his nervous system. Imagine turn on lights without touching a switch, or controlling your computer without a keyboard! In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, the first steps in our cybernetic future. Also, robo sapiens – the new robot revolution.
Mark Pesce teaches interactive media at USC. He tells Anne Strainchamps about the new high-tech toys that seem to be alive, from demanding baby dolls to Furby's you can't turn off. Pesce's book is "The Playful World: How Technology Is Transforming Our Imagination." Also, psychologist Sherry Turkle tells Steve Paulson she's worried about the effect these toys will have on children.SEGMENT 2:
Journalists Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio toured some of the world's most advanced robotics labs for their book "Robo Sapiens: The Evolution of A New Species." They tell Steve Paulson that the robot revolution is still in its infancy. Also, thirteen year old Lisa Winter built a robot named Tentoumoshi which competes on Comedy Central's Battlebots. Lisa tells Jim Fleming what participating in the televised fight-to-the-death competition for robots was like, and how Tentoumoshi developed.SEGMENT 3:
Kevin Warwick aims to become the first human cyborg. He tells Jim Fleming about the chip he plans to implant in his arm and what he hopes the results will be. Warwick teaches cybernetics at the University of Reading in England.Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 00-11-05-B.
flemingj@wpr.org
Page Design and Management by Jim Fleming at Wisconsin Public Radio.
© Copyright 2000 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.