MAN-MACHINE INTERACTION

AVIRUP KUNDU(43)DEEPESH DAS(19)

KANAD CHAKRABORTY(10)SAUMYADEEP CHATTERJEE(14)

ST THOMAS’ COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

OUTLINEHistorical and Literary

perspectiveThe present scenarioSome case studiesA peek into the futureThe pitfalls of increasing MMIClosing thoughts

HISTORICAL AND LITERARY PERSPECTIVE

The ancient Chinese text Lie Zi describes an ‘Automaton’ around 250 B.C.

The Greek mathematician Hero of Alexandria describes an automaton to pour guest’s wine

Leonardo da Vinci designs his humanoid automaton in 1495 known as Leonardo’s robot

LEONARDO’S ROBOTThe robot is clad in German-Italian medieval armour, that is able to make several human-like motions. These motions included sitting up, moving its arms, neck, and an anatomically correct jaw.

Isaac Asimov formulates the ‘Three Laws of Robotics’ and hence coins the term ‘Robotics’

The word ‘Cybernetics’ is used by Norbert Wiener when he formulates the Principles of Cybernetics

Fritz Lang's movie "Metropolis" is released in 1926. "Maria" the female robot in the film is the first robot to be projected on the silver screen.

THE PRESENT SCENARIO

Although our history and literature is crowded with references to automatons, our true interaction with machines started with the Industrial revolution.

Steam powered engines began to truly ease the burden off the shoulder of humans.

The introduction of the first mechanized assembly line by Eli Whitney in 1797 was a revolutionary breakthrough.

The modern day Man-Machine Interaction may be divided into 2 categories:1. Control of machines in general

using devices like steering wheel, automobile pedal, or button.

2. Human–computer interaction.The first category is the classical

one and least controversial. We use it daily

The second category is the emerging one, which we are beginning to use, and will continue to, and the most controversial

We focus on the Human-Computer Interface since it is where ethical considerations come into play with themes like:

Robot-Emotion Treatment of emotion enhanced robots Place of augmented humans in society Moral issues of using machines to interfere

with what Nature intended And by extension immortality

SOME CASE STUDIES

"Luke" arm developed by Dean Kamen's Deka organization, funded by DARPA

ISAAC ASIMOVExplored the pitfalls of MMI

beautifully in his works.R. Daneel Olivaw is the pinnacle

in humanoid robot development with something akin to emotion.

He befriends a human who reciprocates his feelings and this relationship ultimately alters the course of human history(future) over a few thousand years.

R. Giskard gains the ability to sense human emotion and alter them leading to the destruction of Earth.

Golan Trevize’s mind controlled automatic spaceship communicates with him through his hands and follows his every thought.

BIONIC MAN REXIt incorporates some of the latest

advances in prosthetic technology, as well as an artificial pancreas, kidney, spleen and trachea, and a functional blood circulatory system

Created as a collaboration between Sheffield university, MIT, Oxford, University College London and Swansea

REXThe $1million complete bionic man complete with artificial organs, synthetic blood and robot limbs

PROSTHETICSAn ancient Egyptian Wooden prosthetic toe

Oscar PistoriusHe participated in the Summer

Olympics with a pair of prosthetic limbs

Generated controversy over whether his ‘Flex-Foot Cheetah Blade’ gave him any advantage over other athletes

OSCAR PISTORIUS

Oscar Pistorius during the Summer Olympics 2012

MEDICAL SCIENCESRobotic surgery is poised to allow

the best doctors from around the world operate on the most critical patient anywhere in the world

In 1988, the PROBOT, developed at Imperial College London, was used to perform prostatic surgery by Dr. Senthil Nathan at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London

ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEMA robotically assisted surgical system used for prostatectomies, cardiac valve repair and gynaecologic surgical procedures

COMMON MMISeveral implants in the human

body like:◦Cochlear implant◦Pace Maker◦Micro Chip implant

Increasing dependence on technology like Apple’s Siri which can be talked to

Google Glass projectSensors surround us working

even without human interference

PROF. STEPHEN HAWKINS

He is living proof of the benefits of a Man-Computer Interface which allows him to move and speak through speakers mounted on his wheelchair even though he has Motor-Neuron disease

GOOGLE GLASS

Its an augmented reality Head-Mounted Display that projects real time information into the wearers retina and will communicate by using bone conduction sound technology instead of human speech

A PEEK INTO THE FUTURE

SELF DRIVEN CARSSelf-driven cars are just round

the corner working with each other without human interference to navigate the fastest and safest route

Potential for a ‘Zero’ accident scenario

Very desirable technology with both civilian and battlefield implications

GOOGLE’S SELF DRIVEN CARThis is an experimental car from Google which is able to navigate its way through city traffic autonomously

A.I. SURGERYIn May 2006 the first AI doctor-

conducted unassisted robotic surgery on a 34 year old male to correct heart arythmia

The surgery was rated as better than an above-average surgeon

In the future Surgeries will be done flawlessly by means on robotic A.I.

ROBOT EXO SKELETONSAn almost tireless bodyAble to do the work of many men

and machines alone. Dr. Octopus from Spiderman is a famous example

Possibility to shed the weak human body and be as powerful as machines

DR. OCTOPUS

Dr. Octopus with his four robotic ‘assistants’

CYBORGSA man-machine mixture and the

ultimate form of robot exo-skeleton made famous by RoboCop

A cybernetic organism is a large network of communication and control made famous by SkyNet

ROBOCOPAfter being mortally wounded in a firefight officer Murphy morphs into RoboCop

THE PITFALLS OF MMI

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCEAre we prepared to accept a

robot that feels like a humanWhat if the robot demands

equality with humans and uses his undeniably superior powers to achieve them

Do robots need emotion in the first place

Again can robots be a faithful companion if it doesn’t have emotion

ROGUE A.I.Popularized by ‘The Terminator’

series of moviesLeaving the running of day to day

life to robots might make us lose control of our lives

Sentient robots might consider themselves our master

TERMINATOR ROBOTTerminator robots are sent from the future by a rogue A.I. Skynet which plans to destroy all of humanity

AUGMENTED HUMANSCan humans with augmented

limbs be allowed to compete in society or should they be a special case

Augmenting allows more ability than muscular limbs- Are we prepared to allow a person in our midst who can hear even our tiniest whispers

STAGNATIONAs robots take over the hard

work of humans we grow weaker and weaker

Less productive humans with no impetus to explore new frontiers

Science and technological development gradually slows to a halt

Humans less prepared to adapt physically to any eventuality

POSSIBLE FUTURE HUMAN EVOLUTIONThe human race may split into 2 different species in the future it has been predicted. The impact of stagnating human lifestyle has not yet been studied properly

IMMORTALITYWith the ability to scan the brain

via MRI we are nearer to immortality than any previous generation

The brain can be scanned and uploaded to a computer to allow a person to live in a machine even if the body withers away

So what constitutes a human? Only his brain or the entire body

CLOSING THOUGHTS

BLESSINGSWith the benefits MMI brings in to

the progress of Human society its inevitable that Man-Machine Interaction will continue to increase

Replaceable biological organs with machines provides a way out of matching blood group, unavailability of organs etc

CURSESThe increasing MMI might cause

catastrophe in NatureIt might be harmful for future

humans to be totally reliant on machines for even basic needs of life

Augmented humans might be controversial in society

AMBIGIOUSWe are not yet at the point of

seamless MMIWhat we have is rudimentary

voice or nerve controlWhat we need is direct brain

controlWe don’t know whether it will be

good or badBut MMI is inevitable

REFERENCEShttp://robotics.megagiant.com/

history.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Cyberneticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-

machine_interaction