The word ‘robot’ is derived from the Czechoslovak word ‘robota’ meaning ‘work done to order’ and was first used to describe an artificial man in Karel Capek’s play R.U.R. in 1921. Since then robots have thrilled cinema audiences; the first screen appearance being a mechnical woman in Fritz Lang’s Metropolis of 1926. The robot here was used to lead a workers’ revolution.
From then onwards robots became so popular in science fiction books and magazines that in the 1940s Isaac Asimov devised his three famous laws of robotics:
1 A robot may not harm a human being,
2 A robot must obey the orders given by a human being, except when
these would conflict with the first law
3 A robot must protect its own existence, except where it conflicts
with the first or second laws.
Throughout the 50s and 60s robots became increasingly popular and such notable creations as ‘Twiki’ the midget, boy-like valet of Buck Rogers appeared and featured in many of the Buck Rogers films. The 70s saw an explosion of film robots, including the stars of Star Wars the human-like android C3PO and his companion, the speechless ‘workdroid’ R2D2 who looked like a metal cylinder with legs. On TV, Dr. Who’s canine friend ‘K-9’ acquired a large following, while London Weekend Television produced their own ‘Metal Mickey’, a dustbin-shaped robot who was unpredictably zany.
In the 80s the fascination with robots continues to grow with ‘Marvin’ the paranoid android, from the book The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which became a cult with its own badges, posters and record.
These are all robots of fiction?but real-life ones are being increasingly
used: Fiat of Italy has an entire factory operated by robots, while
in Britain, and elsewhere, industrial robots capable of many things
from welding to paint spraying are being used. British Leyland’s
paint workshops are now fully automated, with robots being used for
all body spraying.
Within the next few years robots will be capable of speaking and understanding
words, so conversation between man and robot will be a possibility.
Robots will also have other senses developed so they will be able
to distinguish things by touch and find their way around by the use
of cameras and sensors. Then the robots of science fiction will be
a reality.
Answer. Title of the passage
ROBOTS OF FUTURE
summary of the passage continued below.....