Guy Hoffman Robotics

8/12/2019 Guy Hoffman Robotics

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https://www.ted.com/talks/guy_hoffman_robots_with_soul

Guy Hoffman; Robots with soulWatch the video until 3:31 and answer these questions.

Apprentice: Does he have skills to do the job alone yet? No. Graceful: The dancers move gracefully. They are graceful. Is

this an attractive movement? Yes.

Fluent: Their movements are fluent. Is it a stop startmovement or smooth? Smooth.

MIT: Show a picture, its a school. Trivial: Ive lost my chocolate bar, Im really sad. Oh, dont be

so trivial! Its only a chocolate bar! Is this a serious problem?

No, its a small problem. Its trivial.

1. What was Guys first robot? (a desk lamp)2. What were robots like when he first started studying them?

(they had robotic, mechanical movements)

3.Why was his robot different? (it was more human, a quietapprentice)

Watch the video until 6:58 and answer these questions.

Chess game: Describe game then show picture Revelation: When he studied acting, he had a revelation. You

can mix acting techniques with robots! Was this a new idea?

Yes. So it hadnt been done before? No. Was it surprising? Yes. Improvisation/improvise: Watch the video of the man playing

guitar and say, hes improvising.Is it planned? No.

1. How does he say that robots and humans interact? (like a gameof chess, by doing actions in turns).

2. What did he study next? (acting).


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3. What did he learn about method acting? (that you dont planmovements but use your body to find the right movement).

4. How did he apply this to robotics? (he made a robot that couldcopy our movements).

Watch the video until 8.50 and answer these questions.

Tedious: Doing lots of grammar worksheets is tedious. Is itboring? Yes. Does it take longer than you want? Yes.

Adventurous: Tom likes to travel, skydive and bungee jump.Hes really adventurous. Does he take risks? Yes. Does he like

exciting situations? Yes.

Calculated: Chris is a calculated man. For his business trip, heplanned all the details, times of flights, costs etc. Was this a

careful plan? Yes. Did he take any risks? No.

Committed. Robert was in a long distance relationship but hestayed with his girlfriend because he was committed to her.Was it difficult knowing his girlfriend was so far away? Yes.

But did he end their relationship? No, as he was committed.

1. What was different about the two brains in the desk lamp?(one was a calculated brain that planned its actions in turns,

and one was an adventurous brain that took risks and made

mistakes).2.What did people think about the adventurous brain? (they

thought it was more intelligent, committed and contributed to

the success of the team they called it he or she).

3.What did people think about the calculated brain? (theythought it was a lazy apprentice that it did what it was meant

to do and nothing more they called it an it).


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4.Why was this surprising? (because it showed that people havehigher expectations for robots than anybody in robotics

thought robots should be doing).

Watch the video until 13:30 and answer these questions.

Jam: When two or more musicians improvise together is themusic planned? No. They just play.

Riffing-off: When one guitarist starts to play, the otherlistens and riffs-off what they are playing. Does he listen to

the other guitarist? Yes. Does he play something similar after?

Yes. But is it the same thing? No, he uses it to play something

new.

Full-fledged (adj): completely developed. He passed his examsin software engineering then he got a job. Hes a full-fledged

software engineer now! Has he finished his training? Yes. Does

he have all the skills? Yes. A part of the company team? Yes.

Co-ordinate: In his job, James has to co-ordinate with anothersoftware engineer to complete a new programme. Does he work

alone? No, he works with someone. He co-ordinates with them.

1. What did his Jazz teacher say happens when you improvise?(you dont know what youre doing but still do it)

2. Why is the musician surprised by the robot? (because itcreates interesting music).

3. Apart from playing music, how do musicians communicate? (withtheir bodies).

4. What happens when the robot with the head plays the lastchord? (it looks at the musician to co-ordinate the beat).


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Watch the video to the end and answer these questions.

Engaging: the film on hackers was really engaging. Was itinteresting? Yes. Did you turn from the screen on keep

watching? I kept watching. Yes, because it was engaging.

1. What happens when the robot looks at the rapper? Why? (therapper looks at the robot its hard to resist).

2. What did people like the most about the robot? (that is wasenjoying the music)

3. What secret are roboticists hiding? (that everyone will livewith a robot at some point in their lives or their childrens

lives).

4. How does he want these robots to be? (fluent, engaging andgraceful)

Discussion

Do you agree with his final statement, people will live with arobot at some point in their lives.

What jobs will we use robots for in the future? If we live with robots in the future, is it a good thing to make

them more human, to create a soul or should they be kept as

machines? Give a list of positive and negative points for each.


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ROLE PLAY

Character One: A mother of three you dont want human robots in

your childrens lives because they could be dangerous. Robots should

be kept as machines to help adults do tasks.

Character Two: Elderly Woman you love the idea of human robots

because life is very lonely on your own. It would be nice to have a

friendly helper around the house who never gets too tired.

Character Three: A mechanic youre worried about human robots

being able to replace you in your job. If customers like them andthey dont get tired, perhaps companies will no longer use people.

Character Four: Artist youre excited about the idea of human

robots and their ability to create music and act. Youre not worried

because you dont think a robot will ever replace human creativity.

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Guy Hoffman Robotics