3. Surgeons perform surgery with robot assistance. A step further has led to remote controlled robots to perform on patients thousands of miles away.
a.) One input device would be a camera that the robot uses as its vision. An output device would be a screen that the person operating the robot uses to see what it sees.
b.) One capability is that a robot can make very precise movements without any sudden movements or jerking motions, which a human could do if one did not have a steady hand and was particularly nervous due to the critical state of a patient. A limitation would be that a robot may have delayed reactions to controls from far away or even from within the room. If a robot was accidentally told to make an incorrect movement, then it could be too late for the surgeon to make the robot stop its movement before it causes harm to the patient.
d.) One economic concern would be purchasing the robot. A remote-controlled robot would not replace the need for human hands, it would just be an assistance tool. The hospital would have to have the money in order to purchase the robots for their surgeons to use, and the robots won't cause any significant cut down in having to pay for something. While the use of these robots may allow the surgeons to work at home and save money on transportation, this cost is insignificant compared to the cost of several of these surgeon robots. The hospital would have to have millions of dollars in extra funds in order to pay for them. A reliability concern may be that the robot's camera is not very clear, and that it could give a blurry image that would be hard for a surgeon to see. This becomes a very big problem when working in a part of the body where there are many small and sensitive components that are hard to see and all look alike. A blurry image may cause the surgeon to not be able to distinguish very well between one part of the body and another, or to not see a part all together and irritate it without knowing while working on another part. While sending a camera inside the human body to see what the surgeon is doing requires a lot less cutting up the patient's body to get there, a blurry camera could cause the surgeon to unknowingly cause internal damage, which would be very hard to go back and correct. The doctor seeing what he is doing with his or her own eyes would be much safer and reliable, although it would require the patient to be cut open much more in some cases. A concern for the patient would be allowing a remote-controlled machine controlled by a doctor miles away to operate on their body. The patient may be concerned that the connection between the operator and the robot are lost at some critical point during the surgery, in which case the surgeon would not be able to do anything to the patient, and the patient may wake up and find that their body is still cut open, and the pain could come back before the hospital can do anything. This is a legitimate concern, because there probably isn't another readily available surgeon specified for the job if the hospital has to rely on someone miles away. Even if there was someone who knew how to stitch the patient back up in case of a sudden need to abort the operation due to a loss of connection, if the surgeon was at a critical point that required things to be done in quick succession, then the patient could be in a much worse condition than they were prior to the surgery, especially if this were to occur in something like open heart surgery, in which connection could be lost while the heart is opened. While there may be someone else in the room who knows about how to complete the operation, most likely the most specialized surgeon would be the one initially doing the operation, i.e, the one originally controlling the robot, who was most experienced, so even so, the patient would have to rely on another surgeon who is probably less experienced and skilled at the work that the robot was performing.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Robotics Paper 2 practice
Robots are used in cases such as attaching machinery to cars.
a.) Define the term robot
A robot is a machine that can repeatedly perform tasks precisely.
b.) Describe two output devices that are necessary in a robot used for the manufacture of cars
One output device that would be necessary is a force-feedback processor. A robot must know how much force it must put on an object in order to lift it without either dropping it or crushing it, or else it could damage the part and thus damage the product, which would hurt the company and its profits. Another output device would be the mechanical arm that grabs the object. A robot has to have some kind of device that is capable of grabbing and lifting an object, otherwise its purpose, which is to lift objects and put them somewhere else, would not be performable, and thus the robot would be useless and the company would have wasted money on a robot that cannot perform the desired task.
c.) Explain why robots are often used in place of humans in the manufacture of cars
One reason that robots are more suitable is that robots do exactly what they are programmed to every time they do it. A human is progned to random error, which can cause a product to not function properly, whereas a robot, if programmed correctly, will perform the task the way they were designed to every single time. Another reason would be that robots do not have emotions or thought processes that are irrelevant to their job. Humans can get sidetracked, which causes their production speed to decline and possibly their quality to decline as well, whereas a robot will only do what it is told to do without distractions. A human may also begin to daydream or ponder something about their life outside of their job that may cause them to not pay attention to what they are doing. Robots do not have any emotions or anything else that would distract them from the task that they are programmed to do, meaning that robots would be consistently faster, while human production speed may decrease and increase randomly.
a.) Define the term robot
A robot is a machine that can repeatedly perform tasks precisely.
b.) Describe two output devices that are necessary in a robot used for the manufacture of cars
One output device that would be necessary is a force-feedback processor. A robot must know how much force it must put on an object in order to lift it without either dropping it or crushing it, or else it could damage the part and thus damage the product, which would hurt the company and its profits. Another output device would be the mechanical arm that grabs the object. A robot has to have some kind of device that is capable of grabbing and lifting an object, otherwise its purpose, which is to lift objects and put them somewhere else, would not be performable, and thus the robot would be useless and the company would have wasted money on a robot that cannot perform the desired task.
c.) Explain why robots are often used in place of humans in the manufacture of cars
One reason that robots are more suitable is that robots do exactly what they are programmed to every time they do it. A human is progned to random error, which can cause a product to not function properly, whereas a robot, if programmed correctly, will perform the task the way they were designed to every single time. Another reason would be that robots do not have emotions or thought processes that are irrelevant to their job. Humans can get sidetracked, which causes their production speed to decline and possibly their quality to decline as well, whereas a robot will only do what it is told to do without distractions. A human may also begin to daydream or ponder something about their life outside of their job that may cause them to not pay attention to what they are doing. Robots do not have any emotions or anything else that would distract them from the task that they are programmed to do, meaning that robots would be consistently faster, while human production speed may decrease and increase randomly.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Area of Impact: Sciene and the Environment questions
5. a.) One way that data collection can be transferred to the weather database is by sending the data wirelessly to the weather station in real time so that the database is updated frequently. Another way is to store the data collected onto a portable storage device and upload it from the device into the database.
b.) One difference is that a computer model uses mathematical models to represent something and predict its possible results, but a simulation does this by displaying moving images that represent what is being recreated by the model. Another difference is that simulations can be interactive by adding variables as timme in the simulation progresses, whereas a model merely takes the data and calculates the most likely outcome.
c.) One reason is that not every hurricane behaves the same. Each has its unique size, speed, and strength, giving it unique qualities that cause each one to behave differently. Another reason is that there are many factors that effect hurricane movement, such as the wind speed in a certain area, the air pressure, and humidity. The variations in these in a certain environment cannot all be predicted and be simulated to represent enough areas to account for every possible situation that a hurricane may encounter, because there are so many factors that affect weather it is very difficult to predict how anything that meteorologists see every day behave, let alone a unique instance such as hurricane, which can't be studied as much because there aren't as many.
d.) The use of a weather simulation to predict how a disaster such as a hurricane will behave and act on a system or environment could provide architects with better information about how buildings could be built in order to guard against the forces of a hurricane. Also, a simulation could predict what would happen to a food supply if it was struck by a natural disaster, and knowing what would happen could help people decide how to protect their food. This way, people will know what could be harmful to their food supplies and how they could protect them. A simulation could also predict what the environment would look like after the storm hit. This way, the people could be prepared for what their homes would be like and the people in charge could better decide how to solve the problems that follow a natural disaster.
b.) One difference is that a computer model uses mathematical models to represent something and predict its possible results, but a simulation does this by displaying moving images that represent what is being recreated by the model. Another difference is that simulations can be interactive by adding variables as timme in the simulation progresses, whereas a model merely takes the data and calculates the most likely outcome.
c.) One reason is that not every hurricane behaves the same. Each has its unique size, speed, and strength, giving it unique qualities that cause each one to behave differently. Another reason is that there are many factors that effect hurricane movement, such as the wind speed in a certain area, the air pressure, and humidity. The variations in these in a certain environment cannot all be predicted and be simulated to represent enough areas to account for every possible situation that a hurricane may encounter, because there are so many factors that affect weather it is very difficult to predict how anything that meteorologists see every day behave, let alone a unique instance such as hurricane, which can't be studied as much because there aren't as many.
d.) The use of a weather simulation to predict how a disaster such as a hurricane will behave and act on a system or environment could provide architects with better information about how buildings could be built in order to guard against the forces of a hurricane. Also, a simulation could predict what would happen to a food supply if it was struck by a natural disaster, and knowing what would happen could help people decide how to protect their food. This way, people will know what could be harmful to their food supplies and how they could protect them. A simulation could also predict what the environment would look like after the storm hit. This way, the people could be prepared for what their homes would be like and the people in charge could better decide how to solve the problems that follow a natural disaster.
Model/Simulations practice questions
1. a. A computer model is the respresentation of a real-life event or thing using mathematical algorithms and data from said event.
b. One input would be the number of checkouts that he can have open at once, because otherwise the predicted best result would be much too high. Another input would be the average amount of customers waiting in line at once, so that the model knows how many people must be served.
c. One reason is that the amount of people at the checkouts rely completely on human decision, which cannot be modeled by numbers or any algorithm, as there are no patterns. Also, the amount of food each person buys from the store cannot be predicted very accurately either, because of all the factors that contribute to it, such as how much income a family makes, whether or not they're keeping their job, how much time they stay living within the area, whether or not there are other competing stores, etc.
2. a. A computer simulation is the visual representation of a real-life product, object, or phenomenon using data that forms a model that give the physics of said phenomenon.
b. One input would be a realistic cockpit in which all of the buttons and devices in a real cockpit are present and function just the same as in a real cockpit, so that when a pilot goes to pilot a real plane, they are familiar with everything and know how to work it. Another input would be the visual background creation of the appearance that the pilot is actually flying in the sky, so that the pilot cna get used to the sight of being thousands of feet in the air, otherwise the pilot may feel intimidated by the sight when they fly a real plane.
c. One benefit is that a simulation doesn't have consequences of failing that are even close to the consequences of failing to fly a real plane. If a pilot fails a simulation, they can just try it again. However, if a pilot is practicing, say, landing in a real plane, if they miss the runway, the plane could get damaged and the pilot could get injured. However, in a simulation there is no physical danger, so it is much safer. However, one drawback is that the pilot knows that there is no real danger, so there is not as much stress as flying a real plane. If they pass all of the simulations, they may feel intimidated by flying a real plane, and real nervousness and stress could kick in that the pilot never experienced before, which could cause them to do something wrong and crash.
b. One input would be the number of checkouts that he can have open at once, because otherwise the predicted best result would be much too high. Another input would be the average amount of customers waiting in line at once, so that the model knows how many people must be served.
c. One reason is that the amount of people at the checkouts rely completely on human decision, which cannot be modeled by numbers or any algorithm, as there are no patterns. Also, the amount of food each person buys from the store cannot be predicted very accurately either, because of all the factors that contribute to it, such as how much income a family makes, whether or not they're keeping their job, how much time they stay living within the area, whether or not there are other competing stores, etc.
2. a. A computer simulation is the visual representation of a real-life product, object, or phenomenon using data that forms a model that give the physics of said phenomenon.
b. One input would be a realistic cockpit in which all of the buttons and devices in a real cockpit are present and function just the same as in a real cockpit, so that when a pilot goes to pilot a real plane, they are familiar with everything and know how to work it. Another input would be the visual background creation of the appearance that the pilot is actually flying in the sky, so that the pilot cna get used to the sight of being thousands of feet in the air, otherwise the pilot may feel intimidated by the sight when they fly a real plane.
c. One benefit is that a simulation doesn't have consequences of failing that are even close to the consequences of failing to fly a real plane. If a pilot fails a simulation, they can just try it again. However, if a pilot is practicing, say, landing in a real plane, if they miss the runway, the plane could get damaged and the pilot could get injured. However, in a simulation there is no physical danger, so it is much safer. However, one drawback is that the pilot knows that there is no real danger, so there is not as much stress as flying a real plane. If they pass all of the simulations, they may feel intimidated by flying a real plane, and real nervousness and stress could kick in that the pilot never experienced before, which could cause them to do something wrong and crash.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Gift of Fire questions p.184-185 3/4/10
4.25) The fire department official has had plenty of experience in fire prevention and his intuition is much faster than having to design a computer model, and with 25 years of expertise, he probably knows as much as anyone could put into a computer model. Also, if something is entered incorrectly into the model, it will be insufficeint, which cannot happen to a human, although there is human error.
The boss, however, is right to say that a computer model will help. When designed correctly, a computer model can predict exactly what will happen to a system, which can be a bit more reliable in a situation in which failure is not an option.
4.27) While the statement itself may be true that 100 separate studies have been performed about the presented issue, technology and knowledge have both grown considerably since the 1960s. Both sceintific knowledge and the ability to create accurate and efficeint models have grown exponentially since the 1960s. Many of the older models are out of date and, compared with today's models, may not be accurate, since there is so much more known about the world near 1993 than in 1960, and the ability to create accurate models has grown since the 1960s. The statement may be accurate, but the data behind the statement probably doesn't support the reality that can be predicted by more contemporary models.
4.29) a.) The program doesn't know how many of the people included in the world population have access to copper, and how many people who may have access to it use it, and how much one uses more than the other. Also, new mines may be discovered, in which the amount of known copper in the world will increase, so the data does not have a good way of knowing exactly how much copper is yet to be discovered. Also, there could be years in which copper is used more and years where it is used much less, and only having the average amount used, the data does not account for these fluctuations. The program cannot predict how people will use this resource each year as technology progresses.
b.) One reason is that people respond to danger in the near future much more dramatically than they respond to danger that can happen in, say, 100 years, a much longer timespan. Another reason is that this report seemed to grab people's attention because it was so threatening, so it probably got a lot of media coverage, which would make it seem more believeable to the average person. Another reason is that to many people, computer models may have seemed new and extremely scientific and absolute, since technology was new and growing at the time.
The boss, however, is right to say that a computer model will help. When designed correctly, a computer model can predict exactly what will happen to a system, which can be a bit more reliable in a situation in which failure is not an option.
4.27) While the statement itself may be true that 100 separate studies have been performed about the presented issue, technology and knowledge have both grown considerably since the 1960s. Both sceintific knowledge and the ability to create accurate and efficeint models have grown exponentially since the 1960s. Many of the older models are out of date and, compared with today's models, may not be accurate, since there is so much more known about the world near 1993 than in 1960, and the ability to create accurate models has grown since the 1960s. The statement may be accurate, but the data behind the statement probably doesn't support the reality that can be predicted by more contemporary models.
4.29) a.) The program doesn't know how many of the people included in the world population have access to copper, and how many people who may have access to it use it, and how much one uses more than the other. Also, new mines may be discovered, in which the amount of known copper in the world will increase, so the data does not have a good way of knowing exactly how much copper is yet to be discovered. Also, there could be years in which copper is used more and years where it is used much less, and only having the average amount used, the data does not account for these fluctuations. The program cannot predict how people will use this resource each year as technology progresses.
b.) One reason is that people respond to danger in the near future much more dramatically than they respond to danger that can happen in, say, 100 years, a much longer timespan. Another reason is that this report seemed to grab people's attention because it was so threatening, so it probably got a lot of media coverage, which would make it seem more believeable to the average person. Another reason is that to many people, computer models may have seemed new and extremely scientific and absolute, since technology was new and growing at the time.
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