Visions of the Future in the Film I, Robot

Table of Contents Introduction Technological advancement The natural environment The manmade environment Healthcare system Critical analysis Work Cited Introduction In the movie I, Robot, the filmmakers present their vision of the world in 2035. In addition to the expected technological advancement and numerous changes in the natural world, the world in 2035 is crucially different from ours in that a clear boundary between human beings and machines no longer exists.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Visions of the Future in the Film I, Robot specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In other words, robots have taken on almost all of the specifically human traits such as morality, language, self-consciousness, etc. Even though some of the aspects of the filmmaker’s vision of future are possible, and very likely to become reality, the essence of the film appears highly unrealistic. Technological advancem ent The film shows great advancements in technology. An example is the central computer, which is used to control other robots. This computer is integrated with an advanced AI which enables it to act in order to prevent human beings from harming one another. Another example is in the mode of transportation used by humans. The vehicle, detective Spooner drives, is the Audi RSQ, a concept car with a mid-engine layout that gives a picture of how future automobiles will be designed. Its wheels are shaped like balls allowing the vehicle to move sideways. This theme of technological advancement displays the potential benefits of artificial intelligence (Booker and Thomas 139). The natural environment The natural environment of the future is depicted as dried up and futile as far as water and other natural resources are concerned. An example is how a large area of Lake Michigan has dried up, and the lake is now being used as a landfill to store old robots.Advertising Looking for criti cal writing on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The sign that reads â€Å"What you see here is Lake Michigan† reveals to the audience that the lake has indeed dried up. This is clearly the writer’s projection of the trends that we now experience, and his vision about what will happen if those trends remain. The manmade environment The architecture in the movie is somewhat similar to the one present in Chicago today. To add an aspect of the future architecture, the infrastructure in the film has been altered. For example, new triangular antennas have been added on the Willis Tower. This building, which is the tallest skyscraper in the United States, has also been surpassed by the USR Building in the year 2035. The USR Building is made of glass and metal. The shape of the building is that of a knife blade which gives visitors a reeling sensation. One edge of the building is composed of clear glass. This a llows one to have a wide view of the city and all the way down to the building’s lobby. Healthcare system Another area that depicts how the future will look like includes the healthcare system. When Spooner suffers a cut in his arm after a fight with robots, he does not visit a doctor. Instead, he takes a prosthetic spray from his pocket, and sprays it across the area inflicted by the cut. The cut then seals up immediately, and his arm goes back to its original appearance. This looks more like a repair than healing. Though this raises the question of whether the future man will be capable of replacing parts of his body with near-natural objects, it depicts a time when rushing to the hospital due to an injury or disease is long past.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Visions of the Future in the Film I, Robot specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Critical analysis The abovementioned aspects of the worl d of the future are all realistic to an extent, but at the same time, at least some of them trespass upon the territory of pure fiction. First off, from my perspective, it is absolutely clear that we should consider the appearance of the natural world in the film as a warning about what will happen if we continue with our polluting practices. The climate change and skyrocketing levels of pollution in the atmosphere establish the trajectory that leads to a place very similar to the one in the film. Secondly, we can be quite certain that numerous advanced technological devices, of which the new type of car is just one example, are within our reach. Furthermore, the fact that humans have successfully implemented robots in many areas of industry gives us a reason to believe that the process will continue, and that we will be dependent on robotics for most of our industrial practices. One the other hand, from today’s perspective, one of the crucial aspects of the film which is sel f-awareness of artificial creatures seems to belong to the realm of fantasy. As a reminder, it is worth mentioning that a robot in the film develops a critical attitude towards the reality, which shows that it has a deep understanding of the world and the self in it, and is able to pass value judgments about how that world is supposed to be. However, I find this aspect of robotic intelligence unattainable. Here, it might be useful to consider John Searle’s (1980) thought experiment called Chinese room.Advertising Looking for critical writing on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the experiment, he presupposes that if humans were able to program a robot to speak Chinese like a native speaker, it would also mean that the program could be run and calculated manually. In the process of manual calculation, a human would be able to produce grammatical and meaningful Chinese sentences without understanding a word of Chinese. This way, Searle convinces us that robots are essentially unable to have any meaningful experience, but the array of possible behaviors of robots is potentially infinite. Also, healthcare system, as depicted in the film, is very unlikely to be realized given the logic of our current capitalist society. The development of medications, as effective and accessible as the spray Spooner uses, seems to be in contradiction with our healthcare system based on profit, and as such, it would be fiercely opposed by some of the most powerful companies in pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, ways of treatment as effective as that one would lead to unsus tainable growth in population which is another thing that humanity cannot afford. Work Cited Booker, M. Keith and Anne-Marie Thomas. The Science Fiction Handbook. Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishers, 2009. Print. Searle, John. â€Å"Minds, Brains and Programs.† The Behavioral and Brain Sciences 3 (1980): 417-23. Print. This critical writing on Visions of the Future in the Film I, Robot was written and submitted by user Bianca O. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Two Gallants are Callous Men essays

Two Gallants are Callous Men essays Try not to let the title fool you. Two Gallants, written by James Joyce, is a short story centered around two callous men. One, Corley, is an older man of some rudeness and has a taste for womanizing. The other is a self-conscience, older man of some weight, named Lenehan. The story begins with a light approach, description of the evening weather and the illumined pearl lamps of the street. All of Joyces stories found in the work, The Dubliners, have a poetic quality that makes the simplest of remarks, beautiful. This story in particular has the evident use of eloquent and flowing language but, in keeping with Joyces style, is used to mask the perverse subject matter. Underneath the language and examining the adolescent drives in two grown, callous men, is where the real story lies. As told by Joyce, Corley is an entertaining man who gives the reader pause as pertaining to his adolescent treatment of women. As read by a careful eye, Corley seeks the company of well-to-do girls as a prize and pay off. Through the beginning of the story, he tells his companion, Lenehan, about his latest encounter and his eminent one as well. Often referred to, is the question, as Lenehan puts it, Corley I suppose youll be able to pull it off alright?(31), this referring to Corleys congress with the girl. Lenehans interest stretches to the point where he wishes permission to see the girl up close, by walking by the two as a stranger, and even follow the two. This voyeurism displays as evidence of perverse subject matter in the piece. The title is meant as an obvious joke because the two characters are as far from gallants as horses are from dogs. This show of cynicism reflects throughout the story not only the conversations between the main characters but also in Joyces prose. Corley begins his journey as a night walk with his girl, depart ...

Freeze Drying and How it Works

Freeze Drying and How it Works The basic process of freeze drying food was known to the ancient Peruvian Incas of the Andes. Freeze-drying, or lyophilization, is the sublimation/removal of water content from frozen food. The dehydration occurs under a vacuum, with the plant/animal product solidly frozen during the process. Shrinkage is eliminated or minimized, and a near-perfect preservation results. Freeze-dried food lasts longer than other preserved food and is very light, which makes it perfect for space travel. The Incas stored their potatoes and other food crops on the mountain heights above Machu Picchu. The cold mountain temperatures froze the food and the water inside slowly vaporized under the low air pressure of the high altitudes. During World War II, the freeze-dried process was developed commercially when it was used to preserve blood plasma and penicillin. Freeze drying requires the use of a special machine called a freeze dryer, which has a large chamber for freezing and a vacuum pump for removing moisture. Over 400 different types of freeze-dried foods have been commercially produced since the 1960s. Two bad candidates for freeze drying are lettuce and watermelon because they have too high a water content and freeze dry poorly. Freeze-dried coffee is the best-known freeze-dried product. The Freeze-Dryer Special thanks goes to Thomas A. Jennings, PhD, author of  for his reply to the question, Who invented the first freeze-dryer?   Lyophilization - Introduction and Basic Principles, There is no real invention of a freeze-dryer. It appears to have evolved with time from a laboratory instrument that was referred to by Benedict and Manning (1905) as a chemical pump. Shackell took the basic design of Benedict and Manning and used an electrically driven vacuum pump instead of the displacement of the air with ethyl ether to produce the necessary vacuum. It was Shackell who first realized that the material had to be frozen before commencing the drying process - hence freeze-drying. The literature does not readily reveal the person who first called the equipment used to conduct this form of drying a freeze-dryer. For more information on freeze-drying or lyophilization, one is referred to my book Lyophilization -  Introduction and Basic Principles or to the INSIGHTs that appear on our website. Thomas A. Jennings - Phase Technologies, Inc. Dr. Jennings company has developed a number of instruments that are directly applicable to the lyophilization process, including their patented D2 and DTA thermal analysis instrument. Freeze-Dried Trivia Freeze-dried  coffee  was first produced in 1938, and lead to the development of powdered food products. Nestle company invented freeze-dried coffee, after being asked by Brazil to help find a solution to their coffee surpluses. Nestles own freeze-dried coffee product was called Nescafe, and was first introduced in Switzerland. Tasters Choice Coffee, another very famous freeze-dried manufactured product, derives from a patent issued to James Mercer. From 1966 to 1971, Mercer was chief development engineer for Hills Brothers Coffee Inc. in San Francisco. During this five-year period, he was responsible for developing a continuous freeze drying capability for Hills Brothers, for which he was granted 47 U.S. and foreign patents. How Freeze Drying Works According to  Oregon Freeze Dry, the purpose of freeze drying is to remove a solvent (usually water) from dissolved or dispersed solids. Freeze drying is the  method for preserving materials which are unstable in solution. In addition, freeze drying can be used to separate and recover volatile substances, and to purify materials. The fundamental process steps are: Freezing: The product is frozen. This provides a necessary condition for low-temperature drying.Vacuum: After freezing, the product is placed under vacuum. This enables the frozen solvent in the product to vaporize without passing through the liquid phase, a process known as sublimation.Heat: Heat is applied to the frozen product to accelerate sublimation.Condensation: Low-temperature condenser plates remove the vaporized solvent from the vacuum chamber by converting it back to a solid. This completes the separation process. Applications of Freeze-Dried Fruits in Confectionery Products In freeze drying, moisture sublimes directly from the solid state to vapor, thus producing a product with controllable moisture, no need for cooking or refrigeration, and natural flavor and color.

Middle-East and North Africa Countries Case Study

Middle-East and North Africa Countries - Case Study Example The economic milieu in these countries reflected the need for empowerment. World Bank and IMF took the initiative to address the economic issue of these countries and had has taken financial programs for assistance. The MENA conferences held every year aims at providing sound regional economic reforms for these countries in order to strengthen their economic potential. The chief objective of these conferences is to create a business-friendly climate through boosting of international and regional investment. IMF and World Bank strongly believe that the prime challenge faced by MENA countries is the improvement of economic environment for private sector investment. Hence all the programs are designed to boost the private investment in this region. The IMF reforms designed for the MENA region follows a well calculated road towards global integration of these countries. In the beginning the reforms will help to stabilize the macroeconomic conditions within the countries. The next step will be designing reforms that helps to enhance the efficiency of domestic economy. And finally the countries will be competent enough to compete in the global markets. IMF has assisted the countries in MENA region with the ideas for improving the fiscal management of the countries. Some of the notable reforms implemented regarding this issue are implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) in the countries like Lebanon, Sudan and Islamic Republic of Mauritania, implementing reforms for income taxation especially in the countries of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Pakistan. Development of Financial Market The financial market within the countries of this region needs a radical development. In order to address this issue, Financial Sector Assessment Programs (FSAP) has been launched in 1999 by World Bank and IMF. Building up a resilient and well-regulated economy is imperative in order to establish the macroeconomic stability. The FSAP which is a joint effort by IMF and World Bank was launched with the vision of boosting the efforts taken in these countries for financial soundness. According to the prescribed terms of FSAP, IMF conducts the financial assessments of these countries to gauge their macroeconomic stability. According to the Financial System Stability Assessment (FSSA), probable risks for the country's economy are found out and the nation's ability to absorb macroeconomic shocks is assessed. Improving Transparency and Governance The joint effort of IMF and World Bank to improve the economic conditions of the countries in MENA region included a considerable attention on the quality of governance that prevails there. The economic policies of these countries are examined by comparing them with the international set of standards. IMF publishes the reports after examining the countries on Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC). There are

Patterns Of Recidivism Related To Case Dispositions Of Thesis

Patterns Of Recidivism Related To Case Dispositions Of Alcohol-Impaired Driving Offenses. Harsher Punishment Means Less Recidivism Theory - Thesis Example This should act as a specific deterrence, whiche means that the offender is less likely to offend again. This is both because the greater charge will necessarily bring greater punishment, and the greater charge may be used to enhance penalties for future charges. If an offender pleads guilty to a driving while intoxicated, as opposed to pleading guilty to some other charge, like a driving while ability impaired, then that person has to contend with the harsher sentence of the DWI in comparison to the DWAI. He or she also has to contend with the consequences that radiate from this higher insurance rates, license revocation, etc. And, the offender must also know that, if he or she gets arrested again, he or she already has one DWI on his or her record, as opposed to having a DWAI on his or her record, so the penalties will be enhanced. Therefore, the basic premise of this study is that harsher penalties will result in less recidivism. The study at hand will hopefully illuminate whether this hypothesis is correct, as well as look at the effect that harsher penalties has on specific deterrence for the offender. Another basic premise is that plea bargaining to a lesser offense does not provide the proper deterrence to DWI offenders. The literature review will look at studies which shed light on this hypothesis, although whether or not harsher penalties, actually reduces recidivism or is the best method of reducing recidivism, is an open question. There are studies ( Moffatt & Poynton, 2007; Salzburg & Paulsrude, 1984; Yu, 1994) which state that harsher penalties do in fact reduce recidivism, but the literature also suggests that other methods may also reduce recidivism, perhaps to the extent that harsher penalties do or even more than harsher penalties. For instance, studies (Streff et al., 2001; Guerin & Pitts, 2002) suggest that a pre-trial diversion, which means that the offender does not plead guilty to any charge, but, rather, agrees to enter a rehabilitation p rogram and, upon successful completion, will have the charges against him dropped, are successful in preventing repeat offenders. Ignition interlock is another method which has shown promise in this regard(Popkin et al., 1992 ). Therefore, harsher penalties are not necessarily the final word on whether or not an offender recidivates, and the challenge of this study is to determine if the harsher penalties, and lack of plea bargaining, offers a better outcome for recidivism then do alternative methods. Literature Bolstering The Theory that Harsher Punishment Means Less Recidivism One of the theories regarding criminal recidivism is that it is generally reduced when the punishment is swift, certain, and severe (Moffatt & Poynton, 2007). However, it is unclear whether swift, certain, and severe punishment actually do deter repeat offenses. For instance, Nichols & Ross examined the literature surrounding whether actual incarceration results in less recidivism. They looked at several stu dies which tracked recividism rates for offenders who were incarcerated at either a general facility, like a jail or prison, or a special facility, such as an intensive treatment lockup. In reviewing these studies, Nichols & Ross found that, in five of the studies, there was no reduction in recividism. One study which found that traditional lockups did not reduce recividism, but special facilities did. One study which found that a traditional prison and a special facility showed no difference in recividism. And one study which found that incarceration reduced recividism for first-time offenders. Since

The Identity of an American Puerto Rican Essay example -- Race Identit

The Identity of an American Puerto Rican Am I "American" or "Puerto Rican", a question that wanders along the halls of my mind all the time? Many Puerto Ricans might not agree, but I feel that I am, "American", Puerto Rican American that is. As a child my own parents deprived me of my culture and true identity. They spoke to me in a language that many Puerto Ricans refused or detested to learn, English. The only thing I can actually say that I know about Puerto Rican heritage is the comida we shared during family gatherings. "In Spanish the words are habichuelas con arroz; in English, rice and beans; and in any language they translate into the food staples of island life" (p. 59, Fernandez). I went to Puerto Rico when I was four years old and haven’t been ever since. I remember limbers and roosters crowing and hot floors burning my feet but nothing about my generations past. It’s sad to know nothing about an island that many of my own kind are very proud of. I’m clueless of what my Puerto Rican people h ave actually been through. Political, economics, social relations and identity issues, what about them, I wonder. All I know about the island’s history is that we are Puerto Ricans from an island in the Caribbean called Puerto Rico. We are Puerto Rican Americans to my knowledge. We are Puerto Rican Americans because we are a commonwealth island being assisted by the American Government so that gives us some affiliation to being American. Those of us who were born and raised in the United States are Puerto Rican Americans whether we want to admit it or not. The majority deny that they are American, maybe because of our historical past with governmental issues and struggles in the early and late eighteenth century. Who knew we w... ...r school day mornings with the pledge of allegiance, the "Star Spangled Banner", and "America the Beautiful", teachers hoped to instill the love of country that would make islanders 100 percent Americans" (p.56, Fernandez). Americans had many visions for the Island of Puerto Rico of which many, till this day, are still trying to be touched on. From fighting the Spanish-American War to invading the island, the Puerto Rican people did not once stop fighting for what was there’s. Americans tried so hard to make Puerto Rico a little America but through many struggles, were denied all rights. Puerto Ricans have to admit that, though they are not an official state of the United States of America, they are in a sense, still Americans because they have citizenship. And because some finally accepted the English language as a second language, whether by choice or by force. The Identity of an American Puerto Rican Essay example -- Race Identit The Identity of an American Puerto Rican Am I "American" or "Puerto Rican", a question that wanders along the halls of my mind all the time? Many Puerto Ricans might not agree, but I feel that I am, "American", Puerto Rican American that is. As a child my own parents deprived me of my culture and true identity. They spoke to me in a language that many Puerto Ricans refused or detested to learn, English. The only thing I can actually say that I know about Puerto Rican heritage is the comida we shared during family gatherings. "In Spanish the words are habichuelas con arroz; in English, rice and beans; and in any language they translate into the food staples of island life" (p. 59, Fernandez). I went to Puerto Rico when I was four years old and haven’t been ever since. I remember limbers and roosters crowing and hot floors burning my feet but nothing about my generations past. It’s sad to know nothing about an island that many of my own kind are very proud of. I’m clueless of what my Puerto Rican people h ave actually been through. Political, economics, social relations and identity issues, what about them, I wonder. All I know about the island’s history is that we are Puerto Ricans from an island in the Caribbean called Puerto Rico. We are Puerto Rican Americans to my knowledge. We are Puerto Rican Americans because we are a commonwealth island being assisted by the American Government so that gives us some affiliation to being American. Those of us who were born and raised in the United States are Puerto Rican Americans whether we want to admit it or not. The majority deny that they are American, maybe because of our historical past with governmental issues and struggles in the early and late eighteenth century. Who knew we w... ...r school day mornings with the pledge of allegiance, the "Star Spangled Banner", and "America the Beautiful", teachers hoped to instill the love of country that would make islanders 100 percent Americans" (p.56, Fernandez). Americans had many visions for the Island of Puerto Rico of which many, till this day, are still trying to be touched on. From fighting the Spanish-American War to invading the island, the Puerto Rican people did not once stop fighting for what was there’s. Americans tried so hard to make Puerto Rico a little America but through many struggles, were denied all rights. Puerto Ricans have to admit that, though they are not an official state of the United States of America, they are in a sense, still Americans because they have citizenship. And because some finally accepted the English language as a second language, whether by choice or by force.

Texting, Bad or Good

When it comes to texting, people either love it, hate it, or just don’t even try because they may feel that they are â€Å"too old for that young people stuff†. Some people will promote it as one of the easiest ways to communicate or consider it a waste of time and murderous to the English language. I, for one, consider it a blessing and a curse. I can see both sides of the subject. I do agree that people shouldn’t text in some situations or places where it is considered rude, dangerous, or where it would take away from the human interaction that people need to mentally survive. Some may argue that with the rise of texting, it has hindered our grammar, the way we interact with others, and possibly our business relations. I used to be a cashier at a grocery store, and from a personal point of view, when the customers were on their cell phone, it made my job as a cashier rough to do. When that happens, the person isn't paying attention because they are busy texting or talking to someone on their phone. It made the job difficult because you were trying to get their attention for a payment method and sometimes had to repeat yourself two or three times. Then, other customers waiting get impatient and look at you like you aren’t doing your job in a speedy fashion. On the other hand, texting can be great and beneficial in some situations. I’ve been in some situations where it was easier to send a text message. At my church I either play the piano or I’m in the sound booth doing the Media for service. From the sound booth to the platform, it’s at least one hundred feet or more. There have been occasions where people on the platform and sound booth needed to tell each other something about the sound or some other situation. It was easier and faster to send a text message to each other rather than trying to read facial expressions or hand signals. All in all, texting is what you make of it. There are some situations in which you need to have respect and not text, such as classrooms, church, and driving in your automobile for example. The thing to do is use common sense and think, â€Å"Is this safe? Is this respectful to others? If I were teaching, would I be okay with people’s attention being divided? † Most of all, we need to just use our brain and use moderation. We can survive without our phones. Our society survived for hundreds of years without mobile devices. I’m pretty sure we could too if we had to.