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Introducing Handle – Boston Dynamics [video]

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Re: Introducing Handle – Boston Dynamics [video]

#21
post #11

I can't wait for weapons to be attached to this thing so it can be used against us in the future. Imagine the part where it was spinning, but instead with a firing automatic weapon. What prevents democracy from collapsing when a certain technical elite control the most powerful autonomous weapons and keep tabs on everyone's daily lives?

Someone still has to man the lengthy manufacturing and supply chains to build these things and their consumables plus someone needs to be deployed into the theater of operations to perform logistical support and maintenance to keep your hypothetical killbots in action. (Automated manufacturing is one thing, automated diagnosis and repair is quite another.) Someone also has to have acquired enough military expertise t…

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Re: Introducing Handle – Boston Dynamics [video]

#22
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mean like the kind that comment here and have all sorts of interesting ideas that 90% of people don't care about or would resent? I wonder about that a lot too. Like what are googlers really up to with all that control of knowledge...

If you thought I was referring to Google, or any specific corporation, government or entity, I wasn't. Technical elite was ambiguous intentionally, because it really can be anyone who has the ability to fund this type of technology, forward thinking enough to realize the power of it and isn't concerned about using it against others. Historically, this doesn't seem far fetched.

Given that this is Boston Dynamics were talking about I would say this isn't just far fetched, it's probably dead on.

Re: Introducing Handle – Boston Dynamics [video]

#23
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mean like the kind that comment here and have all sorts of interesting ideas that 90% of people don't care about or would resent? I wonder about that a lot too. Like what are googlers really up to with all that control of knowledge...

If you thought I was referring to Google, or any specific corporation, government or entity, I wasn't. Technical elite was ambiguous intentionally, because it really can be anyone who has the ability to fund this type of technology, forward thinking enough to realize the power of it and isn't concerned about using it against others. Historically, this doesn't seem far fetched.

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Re: Introducing Handle – Boston Dynamics [video]

#26
post #9

Nice video. Does any one know if they are planning to make a low power and light exoskeleton kind of mutation to this tech? This could be revolutionary for people with disabilities. or as a mode of personal transport in difficult terrain?

It looked like it was near capacity with the 100 pound lift test.

I also wouldn't bet on the run time being real long.

The iBot was a practical realization of a stabilized, powered chair (same tech as Segway):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fY5NYCVvqs

I guess it isn't manufactured anymore.

Re: Introducing Handle – Boston Dynamics [video]

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone still has to man the lengthy manufacturing and supply chains to build these things and their consumables plus someone needs to be deployed into the theater of operations to perform logistical support and maintenance to keep your hypothetical killbots in action. (Automated manufacturing is one thing, automated diagnosis and repair is quite another.) Someone also has to have acquired enough military expertise t…

> something "a certain technical elite" feels is beneath them. A very common sentiment. However, please remember that the skills to get in at the bottom of each field are radically different and don't let that colour your perception of the top of each field.

Additionally - If the elites make it lucrative enough it will be easy enough to get labor necessary to complete the tasks. Tribalism is real and if they were able to convince a subset of people to complete their ends then controlling the minority/subset would be easy. It boils down to basically why Nazi's and Aryan pride were successful.
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