Android (robot)
An android is an artificial being designed to resemble a human, typically referring to a type of robot. The definition of what constitutes an android is debated, with some insisting that true androids must perfectly emulate human behavior, while others argue that basic visual resemblance and speech capability are sufficient. Despite advancements, the complexity of human anatomy and cognitive functions presents significant challenges, leading to androids with limited functionality compared to humans. Historically, the concept of androids has roots in ancient robotics, evolving from early constructs to more sophisticated machines in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Notable developments include the creation of Wabot-1 and Wabot-2 in Japan, and various humanoid robots capable of walking and expressing emotions. Androids not only hold potential for scientific learning about human physiology and psychology but also find applications in entertainment, such as at Disney. However, they face obstacles like mimicking human movement and addressing the "uncanny valley" phenomenon, where near-human appearances can elicit discomfort in observers. Fiction has long explored the implications of androids, influencing public perception and ethical considerations surrounding artificial intelligence and robotics.
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Android (robot)
An android is an artificial being that resembles a human. In most instances, it refers to a robot. The exact definition and qualifications for an android have been debated. Some definitions state that they must be able to emulate humans perfectly, and some critics argue that a true android has yet to be created. Others contend that an android simply must visually resemble a human and (typically) be capable of human speech.
The complexity of the human anatomy and brain pose immense challenges to the creation of androids, and those that were created in the twentieth or early twenty-first century have had extremely limited functionality in comparison to their human counterparts. By the early twenty-first century, several groups had created robots that resembled humans to some degree and could employ a range of facial expressions, carry out numerous actions, and recognize people. Notable examples include Hiroshi Ishiguro's Intelligent Robotics Lab and Nadia Thalmann's work with the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Brief History
The history of androids as both concept and creation is closely tied to the history of robotics. Robot refers to a machine that can operate and complete tasks independent of direct human control, though they usually follow computer programs set by humans. In this context, android refers to a specific type of robot, since not all robots resemble humans. The term android is a combination of the Greek terms for "man" and "in the likeness of." It entered popular use in the nineteenth century.
However, the field of robotics dates back thousands of years. Some ancient societies employed constructs that were the predecessors of modern robots. For instance, Egyptians used hydraulics to operate human-shaped statues. Petronius Arbiter, who lived during the first century CE, created a moving doll. In 1557, Giovanni Torriani created a machine out of wood that could retrieve items. Still, it was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that the notion of artificial humans grew more popular in fiction.
The first robot to follow computer programming was created in the second half of the twentieth century. Inventor George Devol created what he called the Unimate, a robotic arm intended to operate on assembly lines of manufacturing plants. The advent of computer programming and artificial intelligence made the creation of androids much more feasible. Numerous engineering companies and scientific organizations across the world began striving to create robots that resembled humans and could mimic human behaviors.
Tokyo's Waseda University made a breakthrough in 1973 when it constructed Wabot-1. It was capable of walking on two legs and speaking Japanese. A decade later, it produced Wabot-2, which could read musical scores and perform some pieces.
In the late twentieth century, humanoid robots increased drastically, though designers still struggled with mobility and complex actions. Battelle's Pacific Northwest Laboratories designed Manny, which matched an adult human in size and had an artificial respiratory system but could only move by crawling.
As the twenty-first century began, a much more advanced generation of androids emerged. While mobility was still an obstacle, robots capable of supporting themselves and walking on two legs were more common. They could also emulate facial expressions and perform a wider array of actions.
Impact
Although the most advanced androids can only replicate limited human functions, they have taught scientists a great deal. The attempts to emulate humanity have helped scientists gain a better understanding of how the human body and mind function. These endeavors have helped advance engineering, programming, and artificial intelligence. Androids have also found use in entertainment venues. Disney has been a major pioneer in android development and has attempted to create soft and durable characters suited for interacting with children.
Still, further android development faces significant obstacles. Humans' bipedal posture is difficult for machines to mimic. In addition, powering the degree of functionality in human hands requires many inner workings, which is hard to fit within a machine of human proportions. The human mind is one of the biggest obstacles though. Early twenty-first century androids have been able to retain a great deal of information, process new data, and emulate many mental functions, but they can only imitate a small fraction of human actions.
Another obstacle is how people interacting with androids perceive them. The intent with most android development is to reach a point where androids can interact with society to some extent, usually by carrying out tasks that are too difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant for most humans. However, many people who interact with androids report feeling unnerved. This is a phenomenon known as the "uncanny valley," which Masahiro Mori first discussed in 1970. It suggests that the appearance of something nearly but not quite human results in creepy or unpleasant feelings. The feelings grow stronger the more the being looks like a human. Such feelings eventually decline as the resemblance nears perfection. Observers then accept the being as an equal.
Androids have been a popular subject of science fiction stories since the early twentieth century. The 1927 film Metropolis was an early story that featured an android as a character. During the mid-twentieth century, author Isaac Asimov played a major role in developing the concept of androids and bringing it to the masses. He wrote multiple books, including the Robot series, that revolved around robots, androids, and how they integrated with human society. He also came up with the Three Laws of Robotics, laws programmed into each robot in his stories. These laws state that robots cannot harm a human or allow a human to be harmed, robots must listen to orders given to them by humans unless they would bring harm to a human, and robots must protect their existence, as long as doing so would not cause harm to a human or force them to disobey a human. These laws have been adopted in other stories involving robots and even by real-world roboticists.
In the second half of the twentieth century, androids were often used in fiction to explore the nature of humanity. Examples include the 1982 film Blade Runner, the 1980s and 1990s television show Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 2001 film A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and the 2015 film Ex Machina.
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