Dream – Design – Destination

As an avid daydreamer and science fiction junkie, I believe, as do many of my friends and colleagues, that we are entering a new golden age of science, unparalleled in its impact on human history, where both the number of new discoveries and the quantum leaps in technologies will turn science fiction novels into applied science textbooks overnight in an ever increasing pace. 

Robotics, though not a new industry by any stretch of the imagination, is on the verge of exploding into an earth altering industry.  Positioned similarly in both size and scope to the Internet during the mid 80’s, robotics is just waiting for its own watershed moment, which will officially put the world on notice that robotics has an unquestioning influence on every aspect of human life.  Similar to the learning curve that the Internet posed when the basic infrastructure and framework were finally laid out and the economies of scale were first realized, the robotic revolution will posses an equal if not greater amount of hurdles and pitfalls.

Though every industry needs movers and shakers to direct resources, robotics also needs thinkers to direct our consciences.  The social aspect of this website addresses how the pitfalls and lingering side effects of hasty decision making and unregulated technologies will affect society (i.e. the Internet is coping with spamming, viruses, theft identity and various other criminal elements, which cost businesses billions of dollars a year and more importantly have left our children subject to predators). 

A dialogue must be started now, which addresses both the positive and negative affects that a robotic world may pose.  Whether we discuss eventual job losses that robotics efficiencies will bring on a local or global scale, the importance of robots in an emotional and/or companionship role for our nation’s rapidly growing elderly population, the arming of our planet’s militaries with autonomous killing machines, or even the basic laws, which will hold both robots and their human masters accountable (i.e. If my yardbot gets the “I hate you virus” via my home’s wi-fi network and throws your dog in my autonomous wood chipper, what is your recourse?  Am I criminally negligent, because I failed to update my robot’s anti-virus software?  What about the company that designed my robot?  (Under current laws, if a gun is used in a shooting, the victim or his/her family can sue the company)).  These questions and possible scenarios must be addressed now to properly place the robot within our daily lives. 

Therefore, beyond this website’s obvious business platform, which empowers the robotic community to bring concepts to market, Roboutique will educate the general public in order to position today’s youth so they can maximize the benefits that a new robotic culture will provide, as well as give today’s adults the knowledge and tools needed to make the important decisions that will create the framework for the rules and regulations that will, in turn, govern robotics in the near future.

So please, enjoy the site.  I appreciate all questions, comments and concerns.