Robot Futures
"Robot Futuresis a highly imaginative view of the ways robotics may change both our technology and our view of ourselves. Every chapter begins with a fictional but plausible future scenario involving human/robot interaction. Anyone concerned with the potential impact of robotics on society and human relationships should read this book." --George A. Bekey, Computer Science Department, University of Southern California; author ofAutonomous Robots"An exhilarating dash into the future of robotics from a scholar with the enthusiasm of a bag of monkeys. It is gripping from the start with little sci-fi stories in each chapter punching home points backed up forcefully by factual reality. This is an entertaining tour de force that will appeal to anyone with an interest in robots." --Noel Sharkey, Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, University of Sheffield"The best parts of the book are the crazy scenarios Nourbakhsh comes up with -- like malfunctioning eye-controlled toy helicopters and robot-enabled infidelity. His preference for a future in which robots are employed to serve communities, not individuals or corporations, is innovative -- if less fun than the nightmare robots that populate his chapters." --Slate"In robotics, there is a fine line between science fiction and science fact. Illah Reza Nourbakhsh turns out to be a master of straddling that line. In this accessible, smart book, he suggests how plausible robot futures could change our lives." --George Annas,New Scientist"Concise and illuminating with few detours into engineering-speak, this book will interest a broad technology-minded audience, from future scientists to data analysts to entrepreneurs." --Publishers Weekly