Running head: ROBOTS OF 2014

Robots of 2014
Lila Mae Jones
Winston-Salem State University
November 3, 2014

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Robots of 2014
Watching todays popular science-fiction movies makes it almost impossible to believe
that flying cars, hover boards, and robots are not a century away. It is 2014 and the technology
that was called futuristic is already here! The robots have indeed arrived. This technology may
seem so 21st century. However, with all this talk about revolutionizing present society, no ones
job is safe from becoming obsolete.
Back in the day, shows like The Jetsons, showing a robot maid or servant around the
house, although seemed out of reach then, are not so far-fetched in 2014. Companies, even
countries are competing to see who can make the best human-like robot. Human-like such as
walking and climbing, making small
motor movements, and maybe one day,
thinking for itself; and unfortunately,
some of these robots are already proving
humans obsolete when it comes to
everyday tasks. Robots such as UBR-1
are referred to by Robin Raskin (2014)
of Huffington Post as a working-mans
robot (p.1). He is specifically designed
to work in factories, grocery stores,
warehouses, and even elder-care
facilities. With him around, factory workers and warehouse workers are out of a job. CNA nurses
wont be needed when this bot can do everything a human can do without the pay.

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In addition to serving robots, robots are being created for transportation. Many have
already seen Googles self-driving car in their own neighborhoods, and other cars are coming
close behind. The 2014
Mercedes-Benz EClass drives itself.
Although the car only
drives itself in stop and
go traffic under 18
mph, [t]his is real and
usable new selfdriving technology that you can buy today (Mica, August 2013, p.1). Millions of Americans
alone work in transportation. What will happen to all these jobs when all cars, busses, trains, and
other transit become autonomous? Some may say that these self-driving cars cut down on human
error, and they might. But on the contrary, what will people do when they are out of work and
unemployment is sky-high? In the present-day economy, most have difficulty finding work, and
these robotic cars would only intensify this.
Along with the previous occupations, medical workers are not safe either. Surgical robots
have already been created to preform simple surgeries as they are more efficient and steadier
than a human hand. Robots are being created in the medical field for all types of jobs and tasks.
Many believe that the robots will only replace lower-level jobs or blue-collar jobs, but that is
simply not true. Where there are humans, there is human error. Humans are flawed by nature and
therefore, every task a human preforms presents error. So, wherever a robot can lower that
inevitable error is whoever a robot will replace for the greater good. Current robotic surgeon

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systems include tele-operated robots that a human surgeon can control using a console as well as
automatic robots that perform a task based on programmed instructions.
Robots are not a futuristic idea. Rather a present-day inevitability. The only question is
what will happen when humans become no longer needed? What seems like a revolution may in
fact be just that. How will people live and what will they do? The robots are here and are only
becoming more and more advanced as time continues, and jobs are dwindling day by day.

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References
Lewis T. (2014, October 17). Robot laws: how to regulate driverless cars & robo-surgeons. Live
Science. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/48319-laws-for-robots.html
This article explains both the benefits and possible implications of self-driving cars and
surgical robots. This article describes current thoughts on these and other aspects of
robotic technology. I believe the author believes in moderation of technology. The article
gives both explanation and example to my present argument.
Mica R. (2013, August 21). Self-driving cars are here: watch the 2014 mercedes-benz e-class
drive itself. TFL Car. Retrieved from http://www.tflcar.com/2013/08/self-driving-carsare-here-watch-the-2014-mercedes-benz-e-class-drive-itself/
This article explains the new Mercedes-Benz model, which can somewhat drive itself. It
explains in what conditions the model can drive itself and shows a video of it being test
driven. The author is proving that self-driving cars are not fantasy anymore. The author is
showing self-driving cars are here. This article both reinforces the current presence of
self-driving cars as well as provides an example.
Raskin R. (2014, April 2). 10 robots to watch in 2014. Huffington Post. Retrieved from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robin-raskin/ten-robots-to-watch-in
2014_b_4696766.html
This article briefly discusses the most advanced robots in 2014. The article shows
pictures of each robot and explains what each robots function is. The author believes
technology is moving at a rapid rate and there is a robot to fit every need. It introduces
different robots that can perform the same tasks many humans currently preform.

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