B.E.N – Bionically Engineered Nursing
Before you watch
What jobs do you think robots could do?
Imagine you have a robot at home. Which 3 jobs would you robot do?
Which films do you remember seeing robots in ?
While you watch
How does B.E.N serve Claudine?
What else does B.E.N do?
B.E.N describes Claudine as u_____________________.
As a result of this what does B.E.N do?
What’s the possible cause of Claudine’s sadness?
After
you watch
Jeeves Machine
Having robots around to do the laundry sounds like a great idea. But will they be polite? And how will you teach them not to always have the TV remote control?
In only three years time there will be more than four million robots in domestic service in homes throughout the world! That’s according to the latest United Nations report. They won’t, however, be like C-3PO with their very own list of psychological ‘issues’, although they will still need to follow codes of behaviour. But how can you teach a robot social skills?
A Research Group at Hertfordshire University’s School of Computer Science is trying to answer this question. Advances in technologies are making the dream of autonomous household robots into a reality that is closer than we may think.
In the very near future, robots could be as common as vacuum cleaners and blenders, so their ‘personalities’ are going to be important. That is why the Hertfordshire University group has hired behavioural psychologists to work alongside programmers and electronics engineers.
The team is conducting experiments in which robots interact with people, assist them with various tasks, and even play with children. Observations and post-experimental surveys are revealing. The person’s own personality-type, age and gender influences perceptions of the robot. Service robots should really be able to assess different types of people and react accordingly – much as we do ourselves.
It is hoped the guidelines for robot etiquette will be established for when technology makes robots ready to share a house with people. And for when people are ready to share a house with robots. How long will that be? ‘It might take five years, it might take twenty or more,’ says Dautenhahn, cautiously.
However long, it is probably inevitable. Sceptics should note that large companies including Dyson, Electrolux and Hoover, are seriously investing in home robotics. They should also remember similar reservations expressed about the potential for home computers.
Of course the friendly C-3PO is not the only model of electronic companion. Anyone who has seen The Terminator will probably need little persuading as to the benefits of a charm school for robots.
Do you believe: - robots will have personalities? – it will be possible to create polite robots? – that robots will replace most jobs in the future?
Storey
While you watch
What does the boss start the conversation with?
What does Danny say about his family?
How long has Danny been working for the company?
Which word did Danny struggle with?
What options does the boss give to Danny?
What does the boss have a witness to Danny doing?
What does Danny do to make it up to his boss?
The boss calls Danny a brown-noser. What does it mean?
Read the article and then give your opinion on what you have read
Ambition pushes people at work to succeed, receive praise, and eventually move up in the company. With the promotions and increased responsibilities, people also dream about new cars, bigger homes, more exotic vacations, and perhaps an earlier, more fulfilling retirement. But new research out of Britain showed without a doubt that promotions at work may actually harm the health of people.
Research indicated that the mental health of people worsened with a promotion. The negative effects weren't for the short term, and continued for a long time. Mental strain increased by an average of 10%. In addition, people were more likely to skip visits to the doctor. These people most often cited stress and not enough time because of the new job. The research also showed that a promotion didn't offer any health benefits at all.
Past studies have shown that stress can be a silent and deadly killer. It affects every part of the body. Stress can lead to heart disease, cancer, depression, and even more cases of the common cold. All of this occurs because stress slows or shuts down important bodily functions like digestion, physical growth, and parts of the immune system. Although the negative effects are just temporary if the stress is removed, frequent and severe cases cause the slow down to occur again and again. The effects add up over time.
The findings came from an annual survey which also included information from roughly 1,000 newly promoted people. And although the poor economy and the threat of joblessness are presently large enough to cause stress for some, there's now something else to worry about too: recognition and job promotion.
post-Comprehension: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your answers!
What are some areas that generally cause stress at work? How about areas for you at your job?
Do you agree that the new job responsibilities that come with a promotion are stressful?
Why are some people so ambitious that they seek promotions again and again? Please explain.
Have you ever heard the term "work-life balance?" What do you think it means?
What sort of jobs would cause the most stress? What sort of jobs would cause the least stress?
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