The Nao Robot

There is a new robot in town and his name is Nao! This video shows us that the new technology known as the Nao Robot can be programmed to interact with its surroundings. It can also adapt to the many different changes in the environment around them. For example, if it falls down it knows how to stand back up. It also has a speech function that can help interact and keep up small conversations with the people and/or robots around him. However, the video is an advertisement by the company whom created it and it isn't stated how the robots do these commands, so many of these abilities could be limited to simple programming  of an arificial intelligence that makes its own commands. This video does show us that robotics is slowely but surely moving forward and is making a ton of progress.

The enclyopedia article states that Artificial Intelligence in robots is as if the robots themselves have a mind of their own. Robots with this type of intelligence do not need to be programmed and can do commands on their own without human assistance. The Nao robot may be able to do some things on its own like interact with its environment but it cannot complete all objectives without some programming. The Nao does have some emotion but most of this emotion is not artificial intelligence and has been programmed before hand for the specific task. Therefore, the Nao robot may not be Artificially intelligent and can only compute as a robot, not a human.

While the video itself may be more appealing, a technical description for the Nao robot provides us with more information regarding specs and capabilities. The video was most likely used as an advertisement to get the word out to the public showing off the new robotic technology. The advantage of writing a technical description however, is to show off the hardware to technical people who are interested in the Nao robot. This brand new technology should definitely not be ignored.

References

Lallee, S., Jouen, A., & Petit, M. (2007). Cooperative Human Robot Interaction with the Nao  Humanoid: Technical Description Paper for the Radical  Dudes . Florida: University of Florida.

Mitcham, C. (2005). Artificiakl Intelligence. Encyclopedia of science, technology, and ethics (pp. 110-113). Detroit, MI: Macmillan Reference USA.

Nao Robot - YouTube. (2008, October 30). YouTube. Retrieved April 29, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2STTNYNF4lk

My Traffic Memo

I wrote a memo to College Administators explaining traffic problems outside of LaGuardia Community College and other high schools on Thompson Avenue. I addressed that if we do not take care of these traffic problem then there will be even more accidents like the one that led to the death of a young teenage high school student. One of the methods I explained was placing speed cameras along Thompson avenue to catch any cars speeding or running red lights without slowing down traffic with things such as a speed bump or extra traffic light: I learned about these speed cameras from my parents whom have encountered them on their normal routes to and from work: 

 "Security cameras can be placed to catch people that run red lights and the thought of them being present will cause most drivers to slow down at a yellow light to avoid passing through a red. A police cruiser can be placed on each active corner near traffic lights and the sight of these officers alone will cause most drivers to slow down and obey traffic regulations. These two methods alone can reduce traffic but it may still not be enough. A new traffic technology has been invented and it may be extremely useful to our cause. Speed cameras that check the speed of every car that passes and takes pictures of the cars that violate speed regulations have been invented to help regulate traffic."

I greatly enjoyed writing this memo since it reflects my own ideas and I was able to share them with others as well. The writing I do in this English class is extremely similar to the journal writing I do in my spare time.This engineering writing class has influenced me enough to actually enjoy my writing and enjoy English as a whole. I hope to continue blogging even after I have finished taking this class.