The funny thing is, even if those humanoid robots do become a reality, they are likely to be connected to the internet. For example, there is a project with the goal to create a global "Robot instructions repository". This repository has basic instructions for robots to execute tasks. So, if you need a robot to do a certain task it has never preformed before, it can get the instructions from this repository, train for a bit to fine tune and do the task in real life. And when it learns a new task that is not yet in the repo, it can upload it for others to use. Pretty amazing if you think about it. (will post the link here when I find it) EDIT: Found the link: RoboearthYou may have never heard of ambient intelligence. When science-fiction films and books depict our future world, usually advanced robotics take center stage. But if we do enter the IoT age, this will be a very different type of intelligence than we are used to imagining. Instead of being in a world filled with humanoid robots, we would be in a world that can sense and respond to our presence.
Yes, I think the relationship between advanced robotics, the internet, and our system needs to be thought of in more complex ways. Robots will derive their knowledge and be dependent on the system that created them - and their abilities will be greatly enhanced by their information transfer mechanisms (i.e., being able to download and share information instantly). We will be envious of this skill - but will acquire it ourselves via wetware out of necessity/jealousy etc.
I am (not so) secretly a bit scared of a future where humans are connected to the internet. I think a good many of the early adopters will end up addicted to the information stream. I still wonder if robots will ever attain a level of intelligence which would make us consider them as intelligent as us (like scifi). The humans will also change, so another possibility is the melting of artificial and biological intelligence. P.S. Found the link, see my original post.
As amazing as that would be, it makes me think Skynet. Anyway, would humanoid robots serve us best? I suppose for certain tasks, but there are so very many conditions where other shapes might work better for robots. I also wonder how all those signals will affect the environments in which they are situated.
Yes, it seems like skynet, but there is a major difference. In this case, the system does not control the robot. The robot (or operator) decides which information to download, so the control remains with the seperate agents. Humanoid robots can be very usefull, as they can easily adapt to various terrains. And, being humanoid, they can learn how to do things in the same way that humans do them. On the other hand, other robots can also be very versatile, but in a limited range of enviorments. For example, take the robot in the picture. This robot is the care robot from Tech United for the Robocup. As you can see, it is essentially humanoid, exept for the moving mechanism. This robot is perfect for indoor usage on one floor, helping a person in need of care. However, it will never go with you to the supermarket or drug store in order to get stuff. As for the effect of the signals on the enviornment, this is actually subject of many research projects. However, it is too early to say anything about the long term effects because of the short time that electronic devices have been part of our everyday lives. Remember that household computers were something for hobbyists until well into the 80s and mobile phones became commonplace only after the start of the 21st century. Real wireless communication on all kinds of devices is also something from the last decade. BTW, I found the link, see my original comment.
I think that the reason why you hear less about nanobots is because nanobots are indeed still under heavy development, but also because the news is somehow less spectacular. It isn't the realisation of some scifi idea without the actual applications. People like to hear about improvements like "nanobots now deliver cancer medicine to the cancer cells". Not about "nanobots can now hit targets with greater precision". You need the latter for the first, but the latter is 'meh' while the first is 'WOW!'. I am no expert, but this is my guess.