Paramedical Biology

Robotics was a nonexistent term less than a hundred years ago but today is among the highest incorporated scientific field in United States entertainment and plays an equally important role in it’s own scientific research and application as well. While robotics was once no more than fantasy it is now becoming a distinct point in time, which is assuredly coming. This paper will demonstrate how robotics have been applied and are being applied with a major emphasis on how they can be applied in the future based on modern day fiction.

Fifty years ago robotics probably played no more a role in science or American life than entertainment in the form of robots on such fantasy based science fiction as Star Trek or Lost In Space. The idea of spaceships however had become a reality and with this new invention came the marvel of robots. A robot is known as an artificial life form that is made up of machinery. Such robots have graced our televisions and paperback entertainment for at least 4 generations as of present and appears to have no end in sight. However, on a side note of sorts Star Trek has led many new inventions such as the Tricorder which is an instrument used to measure atmospheric conditions as well as pinpoint location of life signs or other energy radiated by some source. Light speed is as of yet an argument of possibility but the cell phone should be credited in part to Star Trek’s communication system.

In modern entertainment we see a great degree of progression and a part from the mysticism of robots. Today, you can find a television show on Comedy Central called Battle Bots. This is a show in which robots fight each other to win their creators money. This is not a science fiction show meaning that it is no longer fiction for one to have robots in everyday life.

In a modern report in Information Week the navy had announced plans to develop robotic devices to venture into places that humans can not go. This is not the newest of news since the mars missions have incorporated numerous remote controlled robots equipped with cameras to explore our sister planet in the Sol system.

“These intelligent mechanical devices will be packed to the gills with sophisticated sensors and computing power that will perform difficult tasks in extreme conditions-mine sweeping, search and rescue, and other tasks.”

(Informationweek; Manhasset; Jun 25, 2001; Ron Copeland;

Issue: 843; Start Page: 69; Issn: 87506874)

This announcement is not too surprising when one considers the dangers our own planet offers and the frailty of our own species. Man has a need to know and this thirst for knowledge along with a desire for survival leads man to find ways to know everything and if possible at the least risk to oneself. A mechanical search and rescue operator is merely the begining of what will not be considered a revolution because of it’s gradual incorporation into what is considered society.

Electronics are the genus of which robotics is included as well. Electronic appliances have grown to a necessity in modern day life among many leading world countries. The television can be found in nearly every home at an estimated ninety-nine out of a hundred homes. This leads the way for robotics to ever fast merge with society.

A word that’s been around for a while now with no obvious birthplace is nano-machines. Accepted as micro computers capable of a multitude of tasks with the most basic of information storing being listed as a capability. Society would not know of these marvels were it not for entertainment which is brought about through television showing a correlation between robotics rise and society’s acceptance of electronics as a necessity in life which leads to a later discussed ethical debate. A very popular source of media in which nano-machines are incorporated are video games. Sony’s video game console the playstation 2 is already famous for it’s use of computer graphics and advanced computer engineering, but has come out with a blockbuster thanks to Konami of America and Konami Entertainment Japan, Inc. Metal Gear Solid 2 was released recently and is at this point the leading use of entertainment for nano-machines.

A brief summary of the use of robotics and nano-machines in the aforementioned title is as follows. Hearing is defined as any vibration causing a movement in air molecules which is called a sound wave, reaching the ear where minute ear hairs are moved depending on the amplitude of the wave which causes a further chemical reaction leading to the temporal lobe where the data is analyzed and interpreted. Metal Gear Solid 2 uses a logical approach to the need for stealth in military infiltration tactics and the need for communication in said situations. The main character is equipped with a device referred to as codec. This device is a small radio transmitter located on the small cochlea of the ear that simulates sound waves through vibrations resulting in communication from the main character and his tactical operations unit located elsewhere. This technology is not to far from possible since it’s scientific method is very logical and further research into this device should commence if it has not already.

Another prime example of robotics as relating to human life is the use of aforementioned nano-machines for a variety of purposes. It is used for data storage and holds special information while also acting as a kind of card key allowing access to different areas. Obviously, this purpose is very likely as well since the key has evolved so much and taken the shape of the now modern and common card key with a special metallic bar used to read access verification. The nano-machines are also controlled as robots in a rather dangerous idea of stopping a man’s pacemaker. The nano-machines are presented here as repairman/workers of the body with many odd jobs none of which are necessary but most of which are beneficial in some way to the host. These nano-machines are used for one other purpose in metal gear and that is as information gatherers and information receptacles. They transmit the main character’s vital statistics to an organization requiring his life to ensure the child of another operative.

Another popular form of entertainment for presenting the idea of robotics in human society is Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. This movie is presented in full by computer animation demonstrating our leaps and bounds of creating a false world that is so believable it seems as if it can be incorporated into life as it is. This movie takes place in the future having been invaded by a new life form and demonstrates rather sophisticated ideas of robotics including scanning for alien life forms inside the human body. While undetectable and unnoticeable by any other means a certain mechanical device uses a receptor to identify different resonances from the parasitic life form. This movie’s main character has been infected but managed to maintain it with a mechanical shield inside her own chest. An obvious use for robotics is demonstrated here through the use of such robotics to aid human life and assist in the lengthening of it’s span.

While the next source is a rather fanatical idea but still a possibility through the use of robotics in our future is demonstrated in the popular manga Sailor Moon. This comic features pretty soldiers that transform with the use of special pens into sailor senshi or warriors. With the use of robotics or nano-machines the body could be altered to contain parts that contain clothing fabrics that sprout outward at will as simply as the human arm extends. While farfetched at the time there are obvious potential uses in robotics for such appearance altering effects. Another use that can be demonstrated in Sailor Moon or elsewhere in many Japanese entertainment styles of late would be the use of projectiles. In fighting games such as Street Fighter characters can create balls of pure energy and project them outward at an opponent. With the use of nano-machines sensitive to electrical or thermal energy it would be possible to have receptors in hands that then create the desired energy ball using either electricity or heat to produce itself. With this you begin to see other potential uses for robotics in health care such as to stimulate the heart or other muscles with the use of defribulation. These could be used to also regulate body functions. If this is true then it is probable that the nano-machines could be programmed to repair any internal damage that it’s host receives. This could stop internal bleeding as fast as it could be noticed as well as fixing any bleeding or blood clots could be momentarily repaired leaving the host in no potential danger. The possibilities are nearly endless as the use of Nano-machines is merely as limited as our own thought process and ingenuity.

In Megaman Battle Network the world is a bright glimpse of what our civilization could be headed towards.

“In 20xx…the rapid advance of internet technology has created the “network age.” Everyone now carries a portable exploration device called “PET.” This personal terminal is an advanced personal digital assistant. Using it, you can make phone calls, send and receive emails, keep a calendar, store data, shop online and check news from around the world. PET is so convenient and helpful that it has become essential for everyday life!” (Megaman Battle Network; capcom; p.p.4; California; 2001)

In this game technology has advanced so far that the internet has become essential and necessary for daily life. With it being necessary we must have some way to access it and they use portable advanced palm pilots in order to carry out a number of daily tasks. Another program that now exists for the PET in Megaman Battle Network is an actual pet of sorts known as a navi program in which robotic, sentient life exists within the PET. Megaman is one example of such in this story and while humans may never create any other sentient life it is merely a program that makes decisions based on previous evaluations and can feel emotions. While feeling emotions leaves the story as somewhat pure fantasy the idea of creating life within the internet is not too far fetched. On www.neopets.com you raise a virtual creature through it’s birth and control every aspect of it’s life. Is this the beginning of a future trend in which we end up carrying around PETs?

The medical uses for robotics is probably it’s most likely course as witnessed in the following article.

“…(they) recently demonstrated its InMotion2 shoulder-Elbow Robot, a new tool in the treatment of stroke and other neurological disorders, at the American Society for Neurorehabilitation meeting. The InMotion2 provides “hand-overhand” therapy assistance through its robotic arm. Patients suffering varying degrees of brain impaiment are engaged via interactive “video games.” If a patient is incapable of independent movement, controlled robot—arm forces are exerted to move the patient’s arm. The robot gradually backs off as the patient’s functional recovery progresses. Higher-functioning patients may either move, or be moved by, the device based on the desired form of therapy sessions, as well as about progressive improvements spanning multiple sessions.”

(Robotics World; Atlanta; Jul/Aug 2001; Anonymous

Volume: 19; Issue: 6; Start Page: 8; Issn: 07377908)

Ethical or not is the question posed upon robotics research. While this is continually debatable it is believed that the use of robotics to assist living is inhuman in a perspective it is in no way morally wrong though it potentially leaves uses that make it morally wrong. While the gun was not unethical upon its invention it now is debated as to the necessity of such an instrument in today’s society. Will robotics be the next to spark a United States Constitutional amendment? Only time will tell with certainty but as from today’s perspective until man relies on robotics and electronics to the point of no return then robotics will remain our toy and do as we please to make life simpler, easier, possible, or just more enjoyable.

This leaves it rather clear that the future of robotics is unclear but definitely present. While it could potentially span the super hero physics or stick to stealth tactics it can also be used for the medical purposes leaving humans with yet another weapon with which to fight off death with and deny our own mortality as we continue to fight disease and injury alike merely to survive in the world in which we continually shape.

Bibliography

Informationweek; Manhasset; Jun 25, 2001; Ron Copeland;

Issue: 843; Start Page: 69; Issn: 87506874

Robotics World; Atlanta; May 2001; Anonymous;

Volume: 19; Issue: 4; Start Page: 12-13; Issn: 07377908

Robotics World; Atlanta; Jul/Aug 2001; Anonymous

Volume: 19; Issue: 6; Start Page: 8; Issn: 07377908

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty; Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, Inc.

Konami of America; 2001

Megaman Battle Network; Capcom Entertainment, Inc.; Japan 2001

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within; Squaresoft, Square Pictures, Columbia Pictures; 2001

Capcom; Megaman Battle Network; California; Capcom; 2001

Naoko Takeuchi; Sailor Moon Stars. Tokyo; Chix comix; 2001

Naoko Takeuchi; Sailor Moon Stars. Volume 2; Tokyo; Chix Comix; 2001