Future Shock - Roombas of Doom

“Future Shock: Rumbas of Doom.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. February 10, 2008. Viewed February 20, 2009. http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=218357&title=Future-Shock---Roombas-of-Doom

The Daily Show in this news report finds itself reporting on a robot development company named IRobot. This company is currently developing the technology to turn robots into robotic soldiers. The Daily Show, a parody news program, uses humor to critique on the media and events happening around the world. Particularly in this report, technology and the development of robotic soldiers is discussed. The issue behind this report is the ethics behind developing these weapons. A robotics expert Noel Sharkey, explains an interesting argument about robots as soldiers. He explains how it’s impossible to program a robot so it can tell the difference between a gun and ice cream cone, demonstrating how imperfect and dangerous this technology can be. Yet the other side, the IRobot CEO, argues the possibility of soldier’s lives being saved because they are not running into gunfire, a robot is. The report leaves the viewer contemplating the necessity of “ethical standards” for this new developing technology. Will it lead a promising future, or a Terminator like massacre?