Current Events #6

- Protecting Your Home From Afar With a Robot
- By: Peter Wayner
- Published: November 3, 2010
- http://www.nytimes.com/
- http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/technology/personaltech/04basics.html?_r=1&ref=technology
- People using toy robots to protect and watch over their homes.
- A programmer in South Florida, Robert Oschler watches his homes with the use of toy robots that he has modified. Anytime he is concern about something at home, he would turn on his laptop and survey the house using his robot. The robot is a Rovio from WowWee that has been modified with a camera, microphone, and speakers. All Mr.Oschler needs is a net connection for him to control his robot. Along with controlling the robot with a laptop, the robot has been wired to a headset which picks up electrical activity produced by Mr.Oschler's brain. The article tells about other people who has been using toys to watch their homes or to do other things. Qiaosong Wang has a Rovio that has a small fire extinguisher and is equipped with a software that detects the shape of fire.
- I chose this article because I was interested in how Mr. Oschler could use a robot to protect and watch over his home. I was amazed that people can actually add additional software to a robot to improve its performance and enhance the way it can help people watch over their homes. The article fascinated me with how creative people can be with such a simple toy.
- In class we have been learning about the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution was a time during the 1800s that people began to invent machines to help them do work on the farms and improve transportation. Reading this article reminded me of this time. In both the present and during the Industrial Revolution people are inventing new machines or improving other machines to help them do work.