Data miners and Vinca minor

A visit after the robot operation…

Patient: Very competent team. Very caring staff. Always had my details on their iPad screens.

Visitor: They have a reputation for being a research-oriented hospital.

Vinca minor

Patient: I had no problem signing the releases to use my data. Cancer research is a good cause. And, you know, the garden was filled with medicinal herbs. Like periwinkle or Vinca minor. It has 50 alkaloids. Also worth investigating for memory problems!

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Voice-over

A hospital where the nursing staff are trained to meticulously record data while monitoring patients. And botanical researchers collect data on medicinal herbs. A true research hospital.

...

A teleoperated android?

Consultation room…

Teleoperated android

Dr Max: The operation will be carried out using a laparoscopic robot.

Patient: A machine?

Dr Max: It’s more like a robot with our doctors operating it.

Patient: So who will do the operation? The robot or the doctor?

Dr Max: Think of it as a teleoperated android.

__________

Voice-over

A doctor using more precise arms and seeing images magnified ten times. Will it work? We will know if the operation was successful if the white rabbit greets July.

...

Pythagoras and R2D2

Pythagoras believes he can fly but is cautioned by a sobersides cyberian.

Pythagoras: Whee! I can FLY! Like a BIRD!

R2D2: Take care Pythagoras!

This could be dangerous!

Remember Icarus!

A landing less than decorous!

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Voice-over

The human mathematician is only uttering a declaration with a weak simile accompanied by a smattering of emotion.

The cyberian, however, has efficiently encapsulated a complex response using politeness, judgement, caution, a metaphor, a story, a moral, humor, and rhyme.

…

Robots as companions

Irving and Edna discuss keeping pets. E-pets.

...

Irving: Would you rather have a human-type robot as a companion, or a robot-type robot?

Edna: Machines are machines. A robot.

Irving: Most people answer they'd like a robot that looks like a human as a companion. Like C3PO.

Edna: So I’m abnormal?

Irving: I didn’t say that. But you'd prefer R2D2?

Edna: In a tight spot, yes. R2D2 was stable. He ran on wheels. He was dependable. He could clean up. If he squeaked, a bit of oil did the trick. Unlike C3PO, he didn’t talk in a quavering voice and wobble when he walked.

 

__________________

Voice-over

Aibo was a popular robot dog. Ran about and arfed. Edna evidently prefers something more practical. Something that will vacuum the carpet. And as a modern female human, she still really doesn’t need an out-of-work robot who majored in philosophy and then trained as a butler to dress her. That she can still do herself.

Nevertheless, her response is not in line with that of most people who look for human characteristics in a robot. Two eyes. Two arms. A voice. Legs or wheels, below the belt doesn't seem to matter. WALL-E?

...