Living with Robots

What Every Anxious Human Needs to Know

By Patricia A. Vargas, Ruth Aylett | Publisher: MIT Press

About the book

The truth about robots: two experts look beyond the hype, offering a lively and accessible guide to what robots can (and can't) do.

There’s a lot of hype about robots; some of it is scary and some of it utopian. In this accessible book, two robotics experts reveal the truth about what robots can and can’t do, how they work, and what we can reasonably expect their future capabilities to be. It will not only make you think differently about the capabilities of robots; it will make you think differently about the capabilities of humans.
 
Ruth Aylett and Patricia Vargas discuss the history of our fascination with robots—from chatbots and prosthetics to autonomous cars and robot swarms. They show us the ways in which robots outperform humans and the ways they fall woefully short of our superior talents. They explain how robots see, feel, hear, think, and learn; describe how robots can cooperate; and consider robots as pets, butlers, and companions. Finally, they look at robots that raise ethical and social issues: killer robots, sexbots, and robots that might be gunning for your job. Living with Robots equips readers to look at robots concretely—as human-made artifacts rather than placeholders for our anxieties.

 Find out: 
•Why robots can swim and fly but find it difficult to walk  
•Which robot features are inspired by animals and insects
•Why we develop feelings for robots 
•Which human abilities are hard for robots to emulate
 




Editions of Living with Robots

Hardcover
ISBN 9780262045810
Paperback
ISBN 9780262546041
EBook
ISBN 9780262365475

Read an Excerpt

The truth about robots: two experts look beyond the hype, offering a lively and accessible guide to what robots can (and can't) do.

There’s a lot of hype about robots; some of it is scary and some of it utopian. In this accessible book, two robotics experts reveal the truth about what robots can and can’t do, how they work, and what we can reasonably expect their future capabilities to be. It will not only make you think differently about the capabilities of robots; it will make you think differently about the capabilities of humans.
 
Ruth Aylett and Patricia Vargas discuss the history of our fascination with robots—from chatbots and prosthetics to autonomous cars and robot swarms. They show us the ways in which robots outperform humans and the ways they fall woefully short of our superior talents. They explain how robots see, feel, hear, think, and learn; describe how robots can cooperate; and consider robots as pets, butlers, and companions. Finally, they look at robots that raise ethical and social issues: killer robots, sexbots, and robots that might be gunning for your job. Living with Robots equips readers to look at robots concretely—as human-made artifacts rather than placeholders for our anxieties.

 Find out: 
•Why robots can swim and fly but find it difficult to walk  
•Which robot features are inspired by animals and insects
•Why we develop feelings for robots 
•Which human abilities are hard for robots to emulate
 




Frequently Asked Questions

What is Living with Robots about?

The truth about robots: two experts look beyond the hype, offering a lively and accessible guide to what robots can (and can't) do.

There’s a lot of hype about robots; some of it is scary and some of it utopian. In this accessible book, two robotics experts reveal the truth about what robots can and can’t do, how they work, and what we can reasonably expect their future capabilities to be. It will not only make you think differently about the capabilities of robots; it will make you think differently about the capabilities of humans.
 
Ruth Aylett and Patricia Vargas discuss the history of our fascination with robots—from chatbots and prosthetics to autonomous cars and robot swarms. They show us the ways in which robots outperform humans and the ways they fall woefully short of our superior talents. They explain how robots see, feel, hear, think, and learn; describe how robots can cooperate; and consider robots as pets, butlers, and companions. Finally, they look at robots that raise ethical and social issues: killer robots, sexbots, and robots that might be gunning for your job. Living with Robots equips readers to look at robots concretely—as human-made artifacts rather than placeholders for our anxieties.

 Find out: 
•Why robots can swim and fly but find it difficult to walk  
•Which robot features are inspired by animals and insects
•Why we develop feelings for robots 
•Which human abilities are hard for robots to emulate
 




What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Living with Robots?

Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, Industrial processes > Electronics and communications engineering > Electronics engineering > Automatic control engineering > Robotics

Where can I read a sample of Living with Robots?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780262045810

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Living with Robots?

Patricia A. Vargas, Ruth Aylett

Who is the Publisher of the book Living with Robots?

MIT Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Living with Robots is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780262045810) and paperback(ISBN 9780262546041) and ebook(ISBN 9780262365475)

Where can I buy Living with Robots online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Living with Robots from below

Where can I buy Living with Robots?