Post by Justin Yu on Nov 20, 2015 17:39:23 GMT
In "Pluto", the technological advancements in both computer A.I. and robotic engineering has crafted robots far beyond the scope of normal classification. Throughout the story the lines between human and robot are incredibly blurred, and so much so that even humans involved with robotic investigation have trouble determining whether or not someone is a robot (as seen in the dialogue between Inspector Gesicht and the AI Correction Officer in ACT 3 ). And although he looks like a typical robot, North 2 exhibited behavior synonymous to that of humans.
North 2's more "human behavior" was seen as the story progressed. At the start of the interactions between Master Duncan and North 2, North 2 definitely appeared to be emotionless and referencing Duncan's "data" much like a robot. While Duncan was irritated with such robotic behavior, the fact that North 2 was in the military and was currently employed as a butler made North 2's indifferent, obedient behavior normal. Military personnel and butlers are trained to be quite like robots so there should not have been anything out of the ordinary with North 2's behavior. And yet, we see North 2 both disobey Duncan by playing the piano and display human emotion like pain/suffering when he discussed playing the piano so that he won't have to return to the battlefield at the end of ACT 4. Rebelling against an order and one's own purpose is unheard of for a robot. Such thought would be beyond regular computer "data" and into higher human cognitive thought on morality. North 2’s sadness over his service in the war further supports that belief and allows Duncan to slowly change his view of North 2 as a person rather than a robot.
Seeing the interactions between human and humanoid robots made me wonder how many people would actually have such a defiant attitude towards robots with "human" emotion. And how would you think you would respond to the growing change in robot behavior if you lived in the advanced world of Pluto?
North 2's more "human behavior" was seen as the story progressed. At the start of the interactions between Master Duncan and North 2, North 2 definitely appeared to be emotionless and referencing Duncan's "data" much like a robot. While Duncan was irritated with such robotic behavior, the fact that North 2 was in the military and was currently employed as a butler made North 2's indifferent, obedient behavior normal. Military personnel and butlers are trained to be quite like robots so there should not have been anything out of the ordinary with North 2's behavior. And yet, we see North 2 both disobey Duncan by playing the piano and display human emotion like pain/suffering when he discussed playing the piano so that he won't have to return to the battlefield at the end of ACT 4. Rebelling against an order and one's own purpose is unheard of for a robot. Such thought would be beyond regular computer "data" and into higher human cognitive thought on morality. North 2’s sadness over his service in the war further supports that belief and allows Duncan to slowly change his view of North 2 as a person rather than a robot.
Seeing the interactions between human and humanoid robots made me wonder how many people would actually have such a defiant attitude towards robots with "human" emotion. And how would you think you would respond to the growing change in robot behavior if you lived in the advanced world of Pluto?