The Nightmare in Silicon Valley: 8 horror technologies that should scare you to death
Every night is fright night with what can happen once these scary technologies take hold in ways that you may not have imagined.
The diversity of the machines roboticists have dreamed up over the years is truly astounding. Here are some highs and lows from a discipline that stretches back further than you might think.
It was a monumental achievement that kickstarted the age of phototropic devices. The light-seeking dog was created by American researchers John Hammond, Jr. And Benjamin Miessner, a couple of cats who spent their daytime hours developing wireless control for torpedoes.
The dog's creators apparently had some concerns about future applications of their cute little robot. In 1916, Miessner wrote, "The electric dog, initially a "scientific curiosity," may within the very near future become in truth a real 'dog of war,'without fear, without heart, without the human element so often susceptible to trickery, with but one purpose: to overtake and slay whatever comes within range of its senses at the will of its master."
Yikes. Read more about David Buckley's excellent site on robots through history.
Caption by: Greg Nichols
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