Please, No Robots, Thanks!

Jaron Lanier loves his futuristic predictions.  And boy oh boy do I hope he is wrong about this one!  The idea of robots is kind of cool, if you're the laziest person ever.  I'm sorry, but what exactly would be the purpose of living at all if robots are going to do it all for us? Yes, yes he says "They [humans] will remain essential for the technology will rely on data that has to come from people, but it isn't decided yet if they'll be valued in terms that lead to wealth" (Who Owns the Future). In this section he is referring to surgeons.  Well, sorry Sir Jaron, but although non invasive surgeries sound more appealing, when it comes down to it, I want a human performing the surgery on me that will save my life.  You know, something with a beating heart and a working brain?  I understand the importance of many robots used today, but if surgeons are concentrating on learning how to do things through the robots, when are they learning about hands-on for when Mr. Robot breaks? YIKES!  It sounds to me like surgical residents are looking for a 10 year residency in order to cover all the bases, human and robot.

Topics like this make me think of, yes another childish movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! (The one with Johnny Depp) Mr. Bucket lost his job to robots.  Then he was hired back as the guy to fix the robots.  What a world would that be? Not one I would be all too happy about.  Another movie reference - iRobot pops into my head immediately as well. Robot take over? No, thanks!

Yes, technology is incredible and I love it.  However, I think our purpose on this earth is more than "providing the data that makes the networked realization of any technology better and cheaper." There are reasons people are born with gifts, for example, the ability to logically, safely, and professionally cut into someone's body and save their life.  I don't think a future surgeon's dream is to teach a robot.

Finally. I have to touch on the fact that my future career expresses the need to be honest with patients young and old.  Unless you have a robot-crazed 10 year old boy, I'm almost confident every child would have higher anxiety thinking some metal thing is going to cut into his/her body. That would be a whole new world of coping strategies for the Child Life world.

Fiiiire up! (It's finals week!)