Stuntman's Death

According to an article published by BBC, stuntman Conway Wickliffe died during the filming of "The Dark Knight." He was forty-one years old and left behind two children. The Health and Safety Executive are considering a prosecution charge over the incident. Conway's partner, Dee Chase, was infuriated by the incident. She did not understand the reason for Warner Brothers to be cutting corners and not assuring a health and safety person is on site during all stunt shoots. She later commented on the situation and stated, "These guys are under pressure because the director will say he wants something and they have to respond as quickly as possible. It is the culture of the industry and it needs to change." However, the filming of "The Dark Knight" was plagued with disaster, as Conway's death was only the first incident. The actor of twenty-eight years of age, Heath Ledger, past away due to an accidental drug overdose. While in London during the movie's premiere, Christian Bale was accused of assaulting his mother and sister, but no charges were filed.

The reasons for Conway’s death are truly staggering. When acknowledging that Warner Brothers could have prevented this death by simply shelving out the cash for a professional to be on set during a stunt is sickening. It certainly changes my outlook on the director of the picture (his name escapes my mind for the time being). Perhaps if his ego wasn’t so large, he could have waited to make sure all lives were not under extreme danger before shooting. Sometimes ego drives things in the wrong direction.

The Theory of Robolution

The ongoing progression of Robot technology invigorates the theory of a global artificial intelligence takeover. The "Heart Robot" project, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, sports the creation of a machine adept to emotion. The developers of the "Heart Robot" plan to utilize their project to assist in medical treatments and therapy.

The Heart Robot uses advanced mechanics to facilitate life-like movement. The robot, Heart, is fitted with valves to undulate the flow of air through a network of tubes that inflate his belly and then exhale through his nose. Heart also uses a nervous system made up of five small computers that cooperate with each other to organize functions. These computers work to produce behavior and they communicate to excite or calm Heart's reactions. Heart has been equipped with sensors in his eyes to detect objects at a distance, sensors for hearing, sensors for balance and touch. Heart is able to fully react to his environment and vice versa. For instance, when Heart is violently shaken his heart (made up of silicon) will begin to pound rapidly, a rapid breathing pattern will follow, and it will proceed to act in an excitable manner. When gently patted, the heartbeat will lessen, a natural breathing pattern will occur, and the overall movement becomes calm. Heart also utilizes actuators to enable movement of the eyelids, hands, and heart beat along with two air-pumps in the legs to fluctuate a realistic breathing pattern.

Professor Alan Winfield at the University of the West of England and founder of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory says he would argue that artificial intelligence in robots will become omnipresent in the not so distant future and therefore proclaims that we need to begin a discussion about the moral and ethical question that will arise.