Robert Hickson • Mar 02, 2017 •
Seeing Boston Dynamics’ latest robot “Handle” got me thinking about the diversity of other autonomous (or nearly so) robots that have appeared over the last few years. I’ve previously noted the prediction of a robotic “Cambrian explosion”. We aren’t at that stage yet, but it is interesting to look at the variety “out” there. Though mostly … Read More
Robert Hickson • Feb 10, 2017 •
Here’s a sci-fi scenario that may become reality: genetically modified cyborgs susceptible to mind control. That’s the plan for a collaboration between engineering R&D firm Draper and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. They are focusing on dragonflies, and using optogenetics so that their movements can be controlled by light. The techniques and technologies are there, … Read More
John Kerr • Jan 30, 2017 •
What does the future hold in store for New Zealand science? What are the big issues our small, isolated country will face in a world of accelerating change? Over last two weeks we’ve seen some excellent commentary from New Zealand researchers contributing to our Sciblogs Horizon Scan special series. We asked experts across the spectrum of New Zealand science to … Read More
Guest Work • Jan 22, 2017 •
By Associate Professor Colin Gavaghan, Director of the New Zealand Law Foundation Centre for Law and Policy in Emerging Technologies, University of Otago The European Parliament’s Draft Report on Robotics has certainly captured the public imagination, and it’s easy to see why. Proposals about ‘smart robots,’ ‘robot killswitches’ and ‘electronic persons’ perfectly capture the zeitgeist, where talk of … Read More
Guest Work • Dec 29, 2016 •
School-based programs that aim to reduce teen pregnancies by giving girls a ‘robot baby’ to look after, simulating the experience of having a real infant, actually have the opposite effect, Australian scientists announced in August. They found teen girls who cared for a technological tot were more, rather than less, likely to get pregnant. Similar programs are used in … Read More
Robert Hickson • Apr 09, 2016 •
Wired magazine has always been somewhat of a tech fetish publication. Recently they’ve highlighted fetish tech. Silicone valley comes to “adult” toys. [I’m not revealing anything explicit here]. It’s not the sad and seedy that you may expect. These are items designed to be flaunted, or at least not to be seen as embarrassing items hidden away in a … Read More
Robert Hickson • Apr 29, 2014 •
While this past weekend the country has looked back on wars past, what of the future of war? There are two questions here – will there be wars in the future, and if so, how will they be fought? Armed conflicts have been declining (both in terms of number of wars and casualties) over recent decades, particularly following … Read More
Robert Hickson • Nov 28, 2013 •
Its interesting monitoring the evolution of how robots are portrayed in recent films (and books). More and more are appearing, some good, some evil, some in between. The portrayals can capture our fear or our developing emotional attachments to robots, as well as the broader views of what our future may look like. As Kate Darling – … Read More
Peter Griffin • Sep 10, 2013 •
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgIeMp9KVlw Sciblogs Editor’s Picks Hot Topic – Our fair share of future disaster Miscience – Skeptics conference – nerds, nerds everywhere Infectious Thoughts – How common is C. sporogenes in cans of baby formula? Griffin’s Gadgets – A psychic facess a room full of skeptics … Read More
Peter Griffin • Mar 05, 2012 •