ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the science of making machines imitate human thinking and behavior.

There is not yet any AI system that can truly replace human thinking, reasoning and creativity. However, each AI system mimics some specific aspect of human activity and/or thinking.

The most visible type of artificial intelligence is still robots. Robots have been used extensively in manufacturing (for building vehicles and other products) for several years. Other types of robots are emerging as the technology improves.

Robots for the Home

Aibo and other robots are becoming increasingly popular as toys, but other types of robots are also in development. For example, Fujitsu has a home robot about the size of a vacuum cleaner that can wander around your home or apartment and perform monitoring tasks like checking on your pet. It can call you on your cell phone when the need arises. You just have to tell it under what circumstances you want to be notified, for example, if you pet leaves the house.

Roomba from iRobot was the first commercial robot vacuum for under $200, and it sold over 100,000 units. It has since been upgraded to make it more durable since people were using it so much they were wearing it out. The Roomba is about the size of a large pizza and is three inches thick and it travels around with its flippers, brushes, and squeegees sucking up the dirt off your floors. Go to PC Magazine's Web site to read more.

Robots in Difficult or Dangerous Jobs

A mine-clearing robot has been developed at the Tokyo Institute of Technology that is being used in Afghanistan. It works without electricity so that it can dig and explode mines lurking just below the ground in very remote areas. Mine-clearing has caused at least 500 deaths between 1996 and 2002 according o the Journal of Mine Action, so sending in robots to do the job will certainly help keep people safe.

Also in Japan, robotics is being used to make nurses stronger and to deliver drugs. Still in the experimental stage, "wearable" robots will give nurses the strength to lift incapacitated patients. A giant spider robot on four legs will take paperwork and drugs from one part of the hospital to another on command. See more at PC World's Web site.