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Korean Robot Prison Guard Is Autonomous
This autonomous robot prison guard will soon be on the job, patrolling prison corridors. The device has a number of cameras, including 3D, and has software that can assess human emotions (maybe like HAL, the computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey?).
(South Korean prison guard robot video)
Although the robot prison guard is fully autonomous, it can be remotely operated by guards using iPads, and can be used to communicate with prisoners.
I have to say that this version looks a little bit more imposing than this prison guard robot that should now be undergoing testing in Pohang, South Korea.
(Robot Prison Guard From South Korea)
Philip K. Dick was fascinated with the idea of robotic guardians; he mentions guard robots in his 1955 story The Hood Maker:
"Halt!" A robot guard appeared, streaking toward them across the field. "Identify yourselves!"Franklin showed his clip. "I'm Director level. We're here to see the Senator. I'm an old friend."
Automatic relays clicked as the robot studied the identification clip.
And don't forget the fully autonomous, terrifying claws from his 1953 story Second Variety (the basis for the 1995 film Screamers).
I also recall a similar security guard robot from Michael Crichton's 1985 movie Runaway, which also had some pacification devices built in (see below).
(Security guard robot from Runaway)
Science fiction writers have, of course, offered alternative ideas about prisons, too. Not all prisons need to have guards; consider the orbiting penal colony from William Shatner's 1989 novel Tekwar (which kept prisoners in cold sleep) and the zero-time jail from Larry Niven's 1976 novel A World Out of Time (which kept prisoners in a space in which time is stopped).
Via PCWorld.
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