1) Moravec Hans, Robot: Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind. Harvard University Press, 1999.1-14.
(Accessed:5/8/2010)
Hans Moravec is a member of the Robotics Institute at Carnegie University and is known for his writings on the ramafications of technology on humans.
“Escape Velocity”, the first chapter of the book, introduces the idea that robots are overtaking humans in terms of productivity. He predicts that human-machines relations will change radically, as machines will overcome their flaws and they will “increasingly design, diagnose and repair themselves”(p2).
Having previously written a book called Mind Children in 1988 with similar allegations on the potential of machines, the credibility of his predictions are in question as the previous predictions he made did not happen.
Robot Books.com, Interview with Hans Moravec ( Nov 1998)
(Accessed 5/8/2010)
The strengths of this source include the wide range of data he uses to back up his arguments and exemplify his theory that machines can and will displace humans. Also, due the date of publication, some of the theories he argues can be validated by the latest advancement in technology.
Although it is an adequate resource for research, it is not an easy read. For example, there seems to be little connecting his sudden reference to a tribe in the Amazon jungle and his argument on how machines can affect humans.
The complete version of the source is not available online. The hardcopy version should be used for further research.
2) Clark Andy. Natural Born Cyborgs : Minds, Technologies, and the Future of Human Intelligence. Oxford University Press, 2003. 59-88.
(Accessed: 5/8/2010)
Andy Clark, professor of philosophy at the University of Edinburg, writes about what it means to be human now as the relations between human and machine deepen and unfold.
He suggests the idea of “Plastic brains, Cyborg Minds” (p59) in chapter three as a way to explain the relations. Essentially, Clark aims to annihilate any fear resulting from the idea that we are actually cyborgs.
He argues that our minds work in ways that allow for the usage of technology and the creation of it. He supports his theory with results from his experiments and examples from our everyday lives such as.
A strength of this source is the accessibility of it to the everyday reader as Clark uses layman terms and experiments we can easily identify with, such as how our fingers have become more nimble from texting, to validate his theories.
It is important to remember this source is written from a philosophical aspect.
The full version of this book can be found online.
3) Wajcman Judy. Feminism Confronts Technology. Pennsylvania State University Press, 1991. 1-26.
(Accessed: 4/8/2010)
Judy Wajcman, Research Associate at the Oxford Internet Institute and respected author, writes about the relationship between technology and gender. In chapter one, “Feminist Critiques on Science and Technology”, she theorises that the relationship between the two is a complex one that permeates all boundaries.
She compares the differences and similarities between past and present debates on feminist attitudes towards technology. She believes that technology has the ability to create divisions or the power to elevate the positions of women in society.
The disadvantages to women, brought up by her, introduce the negative aspect of our relations to technology and machines. This contrasts with Moravec’s and Clark’s arguments that technology and human relations with it should not be feared and offers an alternative viewpoint. The source comprises content that is highly useful for research but it is not very accessible to the majority of audiences due to the amount of jargon used.
There are no online resources for the complete version of the book. It would be a better solution to use the hardcopy version for research.
4) Haugeland John. Artificial Intelligence: The Very Idea.The Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1985. 167-212.
(Accessed: 5/8/2010)
John Haugeland (1945-2010) was a professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago. Chapter five, “Real Machines”, is on artificial intelligence, what it is all about and theorises that there is a significant similarity between the computing process of machines and the human thought process.
He questions whether our thought process can be developed further with the help of machines. He also points out potential problems that are linked to the advancement of artificial intelligence.
The source is generally well written and easy to understand. As it was published in 1985, some of the arguments in the book have been made common knowledge or validated through scientific experiment. Depending on your argument, this could work to your advantage or disadvantage.
There are no online resources for the complete version of the book, it would be a better solution to use the hardcopy version for research.
5) McCorduck Pamela. Machines Who Think. A. K Peters Ltd, 2004.
523- 533.
( Accessed: 5/8/2010)
Pamela McCorduck is a well-respected writer and journalist in the field of artificial intelligence. She is one of the pioneers when it comes to writing on artificial intelligence.This book is a reprinting of her book Machines Who Think, that was published 25 years ago. The updated version of the book chronicles the history of artificial intelligence with recent advancements in the field added in.
In relation to the human-machine relations question, the “Timeline: Evolution of Artificial Intelligence”, serves more as an account and a source for examples of how technology has been integrated into human life rather than a source for theories of the human-machine relationship.
The strengths of this source include its detailed, clear and well-chronicled history of artificial intelligence. The content is appropriate for research work and it is generally well written as the author’s extensive knowledge on the background of the topic shows.
As there are no online resources for the complete version of the book, it would be a better solution to use the hardcopy for research.
References
1) http://www.amazon.com/Robot-Mere-Machine-Transcendent-Mind/dp/0195136306#reader_0195136306
2)Professor Saul Osuna, home page:
http://www.profesaulosuna.com/
http://www.profesaulosuna.com/data/files/ROBOTICA/ROBOTICS%20EBOOKS/Natural-Born%20Cyborgs-Minds,Technologies,and%20the%20Future%20of%20Human%20Intelligence.pdf
3) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0271008024#reader_0271008024
4)http://books.google.com/books?id=zLFSPdIuqKsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
5)http://books.google.com/books?id=H_DYzqybMLIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=john%20haugeland&source=gbs_slider_thumb#v=onepage&q&f=false
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