Wednesday, March 2, 2005

Robot guardians The AP reports that Microsoft is developing robots that can monitor children while parents are away: The teddy bear sitting in the corner of the child's room might look normal, until his head starts following the kid around using a face recognition program, perhaps also allowing a parent talk to the child through a special phone, or monitor the child via a camera and wireless Internet connection. The plush prototype, on display at Microsoft Corp.'s annual gadget showcase Wednesday, is one of several ideas researchers have for robots. The idea is to create a virtual being that can visit the neighboring cubicle for a live telephone chat even as its owner is traveling thousands of miles away, or let the plumber into the house while its owner enjoys a pleasant afternoon in the sun. Plenty of companies are already building robots for the work place, and toy companies have created plush dolls that know a child's name or can incorporate other personal information. But Steven Bathiche, a research and development program manager with Redmond-based Microsoft, said his company's projects go further. "The vision behind this is to be two places at once," Bathiche said. Pretty soon, in-person parenting will go the way of the 8-track. Isn't that something to look forward to? [Via Drudge] Postscript: Dwr brings up an excellent point in comments: This is Microsoft we're talking about. Will they make a service pack available when the robot's software identifies little Johnny as an intruder and rips him in half with its steel-clawed arms? Technical support will be very important here. Who knows. Perhaps Microsoft software gitches will be responsible for the "Second Variety" world of the future. 11:32:26 PM    comment [] Whither America? In a 5-4 ruling yesterday, judicial activists on the Supreme Court indulged the "I hate America" crowd and took away another one of our unique freedoms, namely that of executing juvenile delinquents. As Justice Kennedy mentioned in his majority opinion, since 1990 seven other countries have executed juvenile offenders: Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Nigeria, China and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, all of those countries have subsequently either abolished the practice or publicly rejected it. Now the Supreme Court insists we join those countries ... countries like Iran. In other words, they want us to join the terrorists. At least Judge Scalia in his dissent could see the absurdity in appealing to international consensus to decide what is "cruel and unusual." I mean, these are people who would classify good ol' fashioned fraternity pranks as "torture." As for intra-country consensus, there's no reason to consider the judgments of blue states who don't even allow for capital punishment. I mean, how can you judge something you don't even try and are predisposed to dislike? As Judge Scalia argued, [It is] rather like including old-order Amishmen in a consumer-preference poll on the electric car. Of course they don't like it, but that sheds no light whatever on the point at issue. You know, there was a time in the history of our free republic when you could draw and quarter retarded children for stealing ... to applause. But those days are long gone, my friends. Whither America? 4:29:33 PM    comment []

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