Reading Roars!

University of Reading cyborg Prof Kevin Warwick is to show off some of his team’s robots to school kids in a special presentation ‘The Ghosts of Christmas Future: Robots and Cyborgs’ on 12 December 2005 (11am-12pm).

World-famous Kevin, who is Professor of Cybernetics at the University, and who has had a number of computer chips implanted in the name of science, explains:

This presentation is proving so popular because we promise to take the audience into the world of the cyborg. People are fascinated by the idea of evolving humans by linking them directly with technology. Just think of what it would be like to be linked directly into a computer network – upgraded memory, extra senses, multi-dimensional thought and the ability to communicate with others merely by thought alone.

The overall aim of the presentation is to inform people about the possibilities of robots and cyborgs in an entertaining and stimulating way. But be warned – this is not mere scientific speculation: the era of the robot and cyborg will shortly be upon us.

It’s a somewhat scary prospect. We have all watched the blockbuster Hollywood movies of robots taking over the world. It’s a popular (and well-worn) theme. It is, however, exciting that relatively unglamorous Reading is leading the way in robotic research in the real world.

I applaud Kevin and his team. They are doing a fine job. And given that today’s kids are risk-adverse and expressing less interest in science, I hope that the children who attend Kevin’s presentation leave with a glint in their eyes.

For further information about the presentation, contact Rachel Fretwell.

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