July 26, 2022

Dora Fields

10th Grade

Northport High School

In 1921, the word “robot” was first used in a Czech play. The playwright, Karel Capek, used the word (derived from the Czech word for “slave”) to describe a group of machines that worked in factories. By the end of the play, the robots rebelled against their human operators and defeated them. While the word “robot” has evolved since its initial usage, the fears of the public remain the same: with robots becoming more complex and gradually gaining more self-autonomy, where does this leave humans?

Today, robots are defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as objects “capable of moving independently (as by walking or rolling on wheels) and performing complex actions (such as grasping and moving objects).” This is very open-ended, so while one might hear the word “robot” and think of WALL-E or C3PO, there are many ordinary things that one can consider robots that fall into the category. For example, Roombas are becoming a popular alternative to manual vacuuming. Roombas can move around and vacuum all by themselves. Robots are also used in the scientific realm. They are being used to perform life-saving surgeries when a human cannot do so. The purposes of robots are endless. They are used in industrial, competitive, and even military settings. One common thread generally connects them all: robots are used to do jobs that are unpleasant or hazardous for humans.

While this leaves room for innovation and creativity, some people worry that robots could become so ubiquitous that they might potentially replace humans. Robots are mostly being used for jobs that are “dirty, dull, and dangerous”(Howard). Cleaning, factory work, and military jobs are all potential places where robots could step in for humans to provide a safer and more enjoyable option. This scares many people, as they might have jobs that could be deemed to fit in one of these categories. However, most robots acting alone cannot fulfill demands like thinking on their feet, using prior experience, or showing compassion. This shows us that, while we can expect more robots in the workplace, these robots would work with humans, doing tasks that would allow people to pursue things that robots cannot do, such as education or writing, as opposed to competing with them as adversaries. 

Since the first use of the word “robot,” we have made many improvements and advancements in terms of using them in our workforce and our daily lives. All of this change can feel threatening, but it is important to be assured that robots and their many uses have a much more positive effect on society than a negative effect. And with all the changes in the past hundred years, it only leaves one wondering… what new achievements and innovations will occur in robotics throughout the next hundred years?