Ann Parker has been doing some early work on the discussion she will lead on the (retitled) discussion group topic “Human Genome Project – and what it means to you”.

Links to resources

Countdown to Life: the Extraordinary Making of You – BBC2/Open University – only Clips now available

Voyage Inside the Cell – YouTube video of the operation of the cell and its genetic content

Help me Understand Genetics – an online handbook

Definition of the topic for the purpose of this discussion group meeting:

Not focussed on

• “old robotics” e.g. as used in car assembly plants or automated warehousing
• “high level” or “general” artificial intelligence intended to simulate the human brain (this is another topic which deserves its own discussion at a later date)

Is focussed on

• autonomous robots with intermediate levels of intelligence (so called narrow artificial intelligence)
• examples are driverless cars, home robots and the introduction of robots in service applications.

List of resources

Basic definitions – the references lead onto other references  and these lead further on……… and on…….  To get a basic understanding you only need to look at the starting level or one level further; if you are really keen you can delve deeper.

To get a feeling for what current robots can do look at some Youtube videos. Some of these are of rather mechanical looking robots, e.g. robot “dogs” and a variety of robots showing the range of movements they can master. There are videos of more human-like robots e.g. Asimo and finally acroids (robots given a very human appearance) and acroids being evaluated for use in geriatric care and with disturbed children.  Robots of course do not necessarily need to be physical objects, see the video from Cambridge University on an interactive, responsive, talking head which may be the user interface of the future appearing on your phone or computer as a personal assistant or carer.

There is an article appearing in Wired magazine which gives an overview of the expected impact of robotics on employment, the “Baxter” video embedded in the article is also worth viewing.

There is an overview of driverless cars in a NESTA article which again has links to enable you to delve deeper.

Of course there is a fuller list of references in our resources pages which you can use to broaden your research if you wish.

Some items we might cover in the discussion:

• The likely technical progress in robotics over the next decade
• The use of robots in service industries
• The use of “non – physical robots” i.e. in user interfaces for helplines, personal assistants, inquiry answering etc.
• Issues raised by the interaction of humans and acroids
• The effect of robots on employment
• Driverless cars and particularly their value for the older population
• The use of robots in health and care applications

Planned outcomes of the discussion:

• We should be better informed about robotics and its likely future social implications
• We should have a basic understanding to be able to discuss other allied topics later e.g. virtual reality and artificial intelligence
• We should be in a position to feedback our views on robotics to the U3A more widely

Instead of our usual twice monthly Wednesday meetings, our dedicated teachers and group members attended for three successive Wednesdays when in early September we had a planned visit from Alastair Sharp,  the National U3A Adviser for German.

Alastair was complimentary about the organization and enthusiasm of all involved  “It was interesting, informative and fun,”  he commented in the email he sent to thank us.

Alastair Sharp, the National U3A Adviser for German pictured with Joan Ratcliff, Norma Wardle and Joyce Coppock

A specially convened session was held at the Ministry Centre to fit in with Alastair’s diary