How Robots Could Evolve Like Microsoft Windows Did
The history of the personal computer has been greatly influenced by Microsoft. The early
operating system was called DOS, which stood for Disc Operating System. The computer had
a CPU, memory, keyboard, display and a disc for storage of programs including the operating
system. On on-board ROM containing the Basic Input Output System (BIOS) was included
on the motherboard. CP/M was another early operating system. At first there was no clear
leader and if someone made a printer that was intended to be a peripheral to a PC, that
company had to supply a piece of software which could be used to drive the printer from the
computer.
Early word processors had software drivers for the printers, for example. It made more sense
to have these drivers become part of the operating system and to develop standard ways for
the various software programs such as word processors and spreadsheet programs to address
them via the operating system. As other peripheral devices were added, Microsoft made them
part of the operating system. Floppy discs were standard at first but hard disc drives were all
different and the user would have to set them up as to the specifications of cylinders, sectors
etc. When the removable hard disc came along, drivers were needed. The thumb drive was
invented, drivers were supplied by the manufacturers at first but eventually the operating
system from Microsoft included the drivers. So it was for the mouse, ethernet interface
cards, video cameras, microphones, surround sound speaker systems, etc. One more
controversial item was the internet browser. Anti-trust lawsuits were brought and in Europe
Microsoft lost such that they cannot include their free internet explorer when delivering
their operating systems in Europe.
Now we have a parallel beginning with the Microsoft Robotic Studio (MSRS), which is
essentially a Microsoft operating system for robots. If the same thing happens over the next
25 years as happened over the last 25 years, we will see an evolving system for controlling
robots which will have motion, simulated motion, hearing, speech recognition, talking,
touching, smelling and taste functions added one at a time to the MSRS. Somebody who
"invented" and patented robotic touch or some other function will no doubt sue Microsoft for
infringement or for monopolistic practices. This should not stop the overall trend toward
having robots with wider and more intelligent capabilities.
This would imply that robot developers would be well advised not to try to invent a whole
robot any more but should use the MSRS and add on modules of their own expertise.
The French company Robosoft is offering a robot dog of a size to play in robocup. It is using
Microsoft Robot Studio. http://www.robosoft.fr/eng/actualite_detail.php?id=1013
Bill Gates had an article in the January 2007 Scientific American magazine.
A Robot in Every Home The leader of the PC revolution predicts that the next hot field will
be robotics
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&articleID=9312A198-E7F2-99DF-31DA6
39D6C4BA567&ref=rss
the most significant problem that AI has had is in sizing the problem. The problem has
usually been larger than the estimates.
2005 Dartmouth at 49 years.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ai50/homepage.html
summer of 1956 at Dartmouth College in Hanover
http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/history/dartmouth/dartmouth.html
d
Once the computer existed, the
donbot
The history of the personal computer has been greatly influenced by Microsoft. The early
operating system was called DOS, which stood for Disc Operating System. The computer had
a CPU, memory, keyboard, display and a disc for storage of programs including the operating
system. On on-board ROM containing the Basic Input Output System (BIOS) was included
on the motherboard. CP/M was another early operating system. At first there was no clear
leader and if someone made a printer that was intended to be a peripheral to a PC, that
company had to supply a piece of software which could be used to drive the printer from the
computer.
Early word processors had software drivers for the printers, for example. It made more sense
to have these drivers become part of the operating system and to develop standard ways for
the various software programs such as word processors and spreadsheet programs to address
them via the operating system. As other peripheral devices were added, Microsoft made them
part of the operating system. Floppy discs were standard at first but hard disc drives were all
different and the user would have to set them up as to the specifications of cylinders, sectors
etc. When the removable hard disc came along, drivers were needed. The thumb drive was
invented, drivers were supplied by the manufacturers at first but eventually the operating
system from Microsoft included the drivers. So it was for the mouse, ethernet interface
cards, video cameras, microphones, surround sound speaker systems, etc. One more
controversial item was the internet browser. Anti-trust lawsuits were brought and in Europe
Microsoft lost such that they cannot include their free internet explorer when delivering
their operating systems in Europe.
Now we have a parallel beginning with the Microsoft Robotic Studio (MSRS), which is
essentially a Microsoft operating system for robots. If the same thing happens over the next
25 years as happened over the last 25 years, we will see an evolving system for controlling
robots which will have motion, simulated motion, hearing, speech recognition, talking,
touching, smelling and taste functions added one at a time to the MSRS. Somebody who
"invented" and patented robotic touch or some other function will no doubt sue Microsoft for
infringement or for monopolistic practices. This should not stop the overall trend toward
having robots with wider and more intelligent capabilities.
This would imply that robot developers would be well advised not to try to invent a whole
robot any more but should use the MSRS and add on modules of their own expertise.
The French company Robosoft is offering a robot dog of a size to play in robocup. It is using
Microsoft Robot Studio. http://www.robosoft.fr/eng/actualite_detail.php?id=1013
Bill Gates had an article in the January 2007 Scientific American magazine.
A Robot in Every Home The leader of the PC revolution predicts that the next hot field will
be robotics
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&articleID=9312A198-E7F2-99DF-31DA6
39D6C4BA567&ref=rss
the most significant problem that AI has had is in sizing the problem. The problem has
usually been larger than the estimates.
2005 Dartmouth at 49 years.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ai50/homepage.html
summer of 1956 at Dartmouth College in Hanover
http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/history/dartmouth/dartmouth.html
d
Once the computer existed, the
donbot
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