I, RobotI, Robot

Isaac AsimovIsaac Asimov

Pablo Serrano y Jose Manuel 1º Bachiller CPablo Serrano y Jose Manuel 1º Bachiller C

INDEXINDEX

Author (Biography Author (Biography

and some curiosities)and some curiosities)

The bookThe book

Personal opinion Personal opinion

AuthorAuthor He was an American and Russian writer born in The Republican Socialist Soviet of He was an American and Russian writer born in The Republican Socialist Soviet of

Byelorussia the 2 January 1920. He died in New York the 6 April of 1992. Byelorussia the 2 January 1920. He died in New York the 6 April of 1992. He moved with her parents at the age of 3 to New YorkHe moved with her parents at the age of 3 to New York He learnt reading at the age of 5He learnt reading at the age of 5

He developed his interest for the science fiction in his youthHe developed his interest for the science fiction in his youth

When he was 19 year old, he started writing his owns science fiction stories and When he was 19 year old, he started writing his owns science fiction stories and publishing them in the magazines. publishing them in the magazines.

He graduated in Biochemistry in the Columbia University in 1939He graduated in Biochemistry in the Columbia University in 1939.. In 1942 he was selected to participate like a chemist investigator in the Americans In 1942 he was selected to participate like a chemist investigator in the Americans

shipyard in the Second World War.shipyard in the Second World War. He married the 26th June pf 1942 with Gertrude Blugerman, and they had two He married the 26th June pf 1942 with Gertrude Blugerman, and they had two

children, David and Robyn.children, David and Robyn.

When the Second World War ended in 1945, he returned to Columbia University.When the Second World War ended in 1945, he returned to Columbia University.

Isaac and Gertrude divorced in 1970, and Isaac married Janet Jeppson later that Isaac and Gertrude divorced in 1970, and Isaac married Janet Jeppson later that year.year.

Curiosities about the authorCuriosities about the author

He died due to a renal fail, but lately, Janet He died due to a renal fail, but lately, Janet admitted in his biography that he died due to admitted in his biography that he died due to AIDS. AIDS.

He suffered of claustrophilia, so he liked the He suffered of claustrophilia, so he liked the closed spaces, he also suffered of acrophobia, the closed spaces, he also suffered of acrophobia, the reason why he by plane only twice in his life.reason why he by plane only twice in his life.

The book

This book is a collection of seven stories which claim the problems about the 3 laws of robotics:

1. A robot must not harm a human.

2. A robot must obey a human’s order.

3. A robot must protect itself.

The stories set out different situations where these laws are in conflict and where some ethics and intellectual problems are suggested.

1st story - Doctor Susan Calvin- Robot-psychologist

Dr Susan Calvin Reporter

This story is a letter wrote by a reporter describing his experience with Dr Susan Calvin, a famous robot psychologist, while he was working with her in the construction of a new robot called Robbie, that could speak and being a nanny. In the letter he describes her like a cold and serious person, like a robot, he also says that Dr Calvin feels an estrange affection for robots.

2nd story - Robbie2nd story - Robbie Gloria Weston Gloria Weston Mrs WestonMrs Weston Mr Weston Mr Weston Mr StruthersMr Struthers

This story is about Robbie, the first speaking robot, who lived with a family that This story is about Robbie, the first speaking robot, who lived with a family that had a daughter called Gloria.had a daughter called Gloria.

One day, they moved without Robbie, so Gloria felt sad without Robbie.One day, they moved without Robbie, so Gloria felt sad without Robbie. Her parents, worried about her, took Gloria to the U.S Robotics factory, to show Her parents, worried about her, took Gloria to the U.S Robotics factory, to show

Gloria that robots are not humans.Gloria that robots are not humans. During the trip, Gloria saw Robbie and she ran toward Robbie and she didn’t see During the trip, Gloria saw Robbie and she ran toward Robbie and she didn’t see

the huge tractor that was coming toward her.the huge tractor that was coming toward her. Finally, her mother saw that robots are good, so she allowed her daughter to stay Finally, her mother saw that robots are good, so she allowed her daughter to stay

with Robbie.with Robbie.

3rd story - Reason3rd story - Reason

Gregory Powell Gregory Powell Michael DonovanMichael Donovan Franze MullerFranze Muller Sam EvansSam Evans

• The story is about Gregory Powell and Michael Donovan, who were two robot engineers, The story is about Gregory Powell and Michael Donovan, who were two robot engineers, who worked in a Solar Station with the purpose to adsorb solar energy and send it to the who worked in a Solar Station with the purpose to adsorb solar energy and send it to the solar panels of the Earth.solar panels of the Earth.

• One day, the robot started thinking about his existenceOne day, the robot started thinking about his existence..• Powell and Donovan tried to make him understand but he didn’t listen to them.Powell and Donovan tried to make him understand but he didn’t listen to them. • Powell and Donovan showed QT that they can make robotsPowell and Donovan showed QT that they can make robots..

• Finally they were substituted by Muller and EvansFinally they were substituted by Muller and Evans

4th story – Catch the rabbit 4th story – Catch the rabbit

– Gregory Powell – Michael Donovan

• This story is about Powell and Donovan, who worked in a Mining Station with a new robot called Dave, who has other six robots working for him.

• They spied secretly the robots and they saw that when Dave has to make difficult choices his brains overloaded.

• Dave’s brains started to work quickly and efficiently during and

emergency, because there were less robots with problems

5th story - Liar5th story - Liar

Alfred Lanning(director of U.S. Robots)Alfred Lanning(director of U.S. Robots) Peter Bogert( mathematician)Peter Bogert( mathematician) Milton Ashe ( officer at U.S. RobotsMilton Ashe ( officer at U.S. Robots Dr Susan Calvin (robot behaviourist)Dr Susan Calvin (robot behaviourist)

This history is about a robot who, thanks at an error occurred during its creation, can read This history is about a robot who, thanks at an error occurred during its creation, can read minds; this will make this robot to want learn about human feelings and try to help Susanminds; this will make this robot to want learn about human feelings and try to help Susan..

Next day, peter and Lanning discussed because peter said Alfred that him (Alfred) is going to Next day, peter and Lanning discussed because peter said Alfred that him (Alfred) is going to resign; but Lanning says that that is not true and decides to go see Herbie and solve the resign; but Lanning says that that is not true and decides to go see Herbie and solve the problem.problem.

After a short dialogue, Susan discovers why Herbie had been telling liesAfter a short dialogue, Susan discovers why Herbie had been telling lies

As result, he auto-disconnected.As result, he auto-disconnected.

6th story – Little lost 6th story – Little lost robotrobot

General CallnerGeneral Callner General BlackGeneral Black Dr Susan CalvinDr Susan Calvin

Susan was called to a military base, to find a lost Susan was called to a military base, to find a lost special robotspecial robot with physics knowledgewith physics knowledge

to find it, she prepared a testto find it, she prepared a test with an human in riskwith an human in risk At the second test , they said the robots that a mortal At the second test , they said the robots that a mortal

wave will be between them and the human.wave will be between them and the human. At the last test, they separate the robots, and tell, one At the last test, they separate the robots, and tell, one

at one, that they can help the human only if they don’t at one, that they can help the human only if they don’t find any mortal wave.find any mortal wave.

Here the lost robot was the only who went to help the Here the lost robot was the only who went to help the humanhuman

7th story - Evidence7th story - Evidence

Dr Susan CalvinDr Susan Calvin Stephen Byerley (politician) Stephen Byerley (politician) Francis Quinn (politician)Francis Quinn (politician)

Susan is called by Francis because he suspects that his Susan is called by Francis because he suspects that his opponent is a robot; they didn’t found anything opponent is a robot; they didn’t found anything conclusive: Stephen ate like any other human, and he conclusive: Stephen ate like any other human, and he even hit Francis, thing only possible if both were robots, even hit Francis, thing only possible if both were robots, but its behaviour and the fact that he never lied made but its behaviour and the fact that he never lied made him suspect; finally, anything was clarified because when him suspect; finally, anything was clarified because when he dead, his corpse was destroyed.he dead, his corpse was destroyed.

Personal opinionPersonal opinion

We think this book is very interesting because We think this book is very interesting because we like science fiction stories we like science fiction stories

We also think that the stories have a moral.We also think that the stories have a moral. this book shows that humans are better than this book shows that humans are better than

robotsrobots