There was a time when robots and home automation were just a fantasy. Robots were found only in science fiction and home automation was limited to cartoon families who had every convenience at their
fingertips. Meals arrived with a simple push of a button. A robot maid performed every task humans
didn't care to do. Today, these once visionary ideas have become reality.
In factories, robots perform hazardous tasks; in homes, they vacuum the floor. Houses can now lock
themselves and lights are programmed to turn off and on automatically. In hospitals, doctors use robots to
perform surgery. Cars that drive themselves are in development. As automated machines and robots take
on more human tasks, there are serious questions to consider. What will become of society if robots do all
the work? Will humans become too dependent on machines and lose the ability to do things for
themselves? Will robots eventually become smarter than humans?
Who is the intended audience for this passage?
science fiction writers
experts who design robots
Opeople who are interested in robots
Help
robots with artificial intelligence