Robots Cababilities and Limitations

Visit the following sites:

Use this site to learn a bit about the different aspects of robots

http://www.robotsandus.org/
Experience navigating a robot (a fairly simple task)

http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/robotics/

Using these examples compare/describe the capabilities and limitations of robots and humans with respect to
a. Vision
b. Touch
c. Sound
d. Movement
e. Processing power
f. Communication
Feel free to use other websites as well.

HL Robotic task for 26th Sept 2008

Read this article
Can Cyborg Moths Bring Down Terrorists? [Times Online 24 May 2007]

a) Sensors.
i) List possible sensors and say where they might be used


ii) Determining situations in which it is more appropriate to use a robot than a human being in terms of danger, expense, rapidity, boredom?


iii) what are the social impact and ethical considerations regarding the use of robotics in medicine e.g. robotic surgery, computer-controlled prostheses



Read the article 'Birthing robots' training medics in S. Korea [BBC news]

iv) Is there a social impact of human interaction with robots e.g. artificial pets, robots for the disabled and elderly

v) What are the social and economic effects of replacing people with robots in the workplace?

vii) what do hydraulic and pneumatic mean?


b) What are reasons why robots are or are not designed as androids with human-like form
i) do they HAVE to look like us?

f) What are the capabilities and limitations of robots (processing power, vision, touch, sound and movement)-what is the DARPA Grand Challenge?-
Katana
Artificial hand
ZAR5
Humanoid-2
Robots
Roboter
Robots

http://links999.net/robotics/robots/robots_ethical.html

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/hsc/aibo/ethics.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/02423/new_page_9.htm

http://bettscomputers.com/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=26

Robotics Task (Hl /SL)

Use the internet to obtain brief notes on the following

a) social and economic effects of replacing people with robots in the workplace

b) situations in which it is more appropriate to use a robot than a human being

c) Types of robotics input/output peripherals used in various situations, for example, arms, fingers, voice, wheels.

d) State the Asimov's three laws of robotics.

The following links can be beneficial
http://links999.net/robotics/robots/robots_ethical.html

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/hsc/aibo/ethics.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/02423/new_page_9.htm

http://bettscomputers.com/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=26

HL Case Study 12/09/08 Period 2

Who are the stakeholders in this casestudy?

From the ITGS Guide (Page 10) we know that the stake holders are:"individuals, institutions, societies who initiate and control the IT developments and are affected by them"

Guiding Questions. Answer the questions

Who are the Individual Stakeholders and why?

Who are the Institutional Stakeholders and why?

Who are the societal stakeholders and why?

Period 5 SL & HL ITGS Converging Technologies

Your have two tasks to attempt during the lesson

Converging Technologies
This is an example of an IB question. You will likely need to do some research on the WWW to answer some of these such as (c) and possibly (a). However, the remainder you should be able to identify. You may quietly discuss possible answers to these questions in small groups.


Many IT developments have resulted from the merging of two or more technologies. For example, phones permitted people to communicate 1000 times faster than by sending written messages and computers let people compute and manipulate data 1000 times faster than by manual methods. When phones and computers were joined to create the Internet, there was a multiplier effect; people could then calculate, manipulate data, search for information, and exchange information a million times faster than by the old methods.

(a) List two other IT developments that use at least two different IT technologies to give a specific service or to achieve a specific function. [2 marks]




(b) Suggest one new IT development that might occur within the next ten years that will be made possible by the combining of two or more current IT technologies. [4 marks]




(c) List four uses of computer chips in modern cars. [4 marks]




(d) Discuss the ethical considerations that should be involved when a new technology is developed. [8 marks]


The PDA and Bluetooth technology

Emerging technologies have resulted in the convergence of computers and communications technology.If you thought mobile phones were intrusive, watch out for the Blackberry. These palm-sized mobile offices are threatening the very fabric of family life says Mimi SpencerYou Magazine, 24th July 2005.

Discuss the answers in twos and email your findings to serem@yahoo.com

a) What does the word ‘convergence’ mean in this context?

b) Give 3 examples of converging technology.

c)PDA is an example of a converging technology. What does PDA stand for.

d) What is Bluetooth technology and how is it used with PDA’s?


e) There are 5 ways to load content onto mobile devices – push, pull, peer, plug and stream. Describe each of these.


f) PDAs have many uses – the news identifies PDA’s being used by Doctors, in the classroom and to help drivers. Find out more about each of these situations.

HL Case study Task 05/09/08 "Investment"

Based on the case study document, reseearch on the following

a) What is Invsetment

b) What is Investment management

c) What types of investments exist and briefly describe each type

d) List the positions or titles that can exist in an investment company.

e) List the function of each title