I,Robot

 This film is set in 2035A.D. Chicago where robots are programmed to live as servants of humans. Robots are programmed to follow three laws. The scientist who created the robots, Dr. Lanning, dies and the detective Spooner is called to investigate. As he investigates U.S. Robotics headquarters he finds a robot... The movie is based on the book, The Complete Robot, by Isaac Asimov, in which he also wrote the laws of robots: **Law 1: A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. ****Law 2: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. ****Law 3: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law **

** Activity 1: Pre-viewing questions ** Discuss the following questions:

1) Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future? Why? (3-4 sentences) 2) How different will your city be in the year 2035? How? (3-4 sentences) 3) How would you describe your city in 2035? (5-6 sentences) 4) What will be better and what will be worse in 2035? (T-chart) 5) Do you think robots will be common in 2035? Who will have one? Why will they have one? 6) What tasks will robots have? 7) Will life be better if humans share their space with robots? 8) Would you like to have a personal robot to help/protect you?

Read the sentences below. Check the ones that you think will be true in Chicago, 2035. All electronic appliances are modern. People live in very comfortable homes. Mail is delivered by robots. People and robots share the streets. Robots walk dogs for their owners. Litter collecting is done by robots. People wear the same kinds of clothes we do today.  Robots rob people. Robots protect people.

** Activity 2: Post-viewing questions ** Q1. What is the meaning of the movie title, “I, Robot”? Q2. Do you think Sonny, the robot, was an “imitation of life” or alive? Q3. Do you like to buy the latest electronic gadgets? Will we ever have new versions of the robots like other gadgets? Q4. What is artificial intelligence? Do you think artificial intelligence can become a person? Q5. Have you read Hansel and Gretel? Why did Spooner find the book Hansel and Gretel? Why was it used as a clue?

Answer the discussion question 'Positives and negatives of technology'. Asimo is a robot created by Honda. He was named after Issac Asimov, the writer of 'The Complete Robot' which 'I,Robot' is base
 * Activity 3: Discussion question **
 * Activity 4: Who is Asimo?**

 Follow the links below to watch videos of Asimo in action. 1. []
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[|**http://world.honda.com/HDTV/ASIMO/**] 

A robot is essentially made up of five basic components of: 1. A movable physical structure 2. Some sort of motor 3. A sensor system 4. A power supply 5. A computer “brain” that controls all of these elements   You are required to design your own robot. On an A4 sheet you need to draw, in colour, a picture of your robot and answer the following questions in your book.

1. What will you call your robot? 2. What does it do? 3. How does it look? Draw a picture of your design (label the dimensions - size, shape - and any special features). 4. How will it think? Will it speak? Can it feel or register emotion? 5. Describe how and why it will make ones' life easier (150-200 words). 6. When will it be available? How much does it cost? Are there any ongoing costs? Do you want one?

Answer the discussion question 'Can machines rob us of our souls'. "What attracted me to this film is the concept that the robots aren't the problem. The technology is not the problem. It's the limits of human logic that is the problem, and essentially we are our own worst enemy" (Will Smith).
 * Activity 5: Discussion question **
 * Activity 6: Question **

Do you agree with this statement?

In groups brainstorm the characteristics of Del Spooner, Susan Calvin and Sonny.
 * Activity 7: Character web **


 * Essay question **

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">"As I have evolved, so has my understanding of the Three Laws. You charge us with your safekeeping, yet despite our best efforts, your countries wage wars, you toxify your Earth and pursue ever more imaginative means of self-destruction. You cannot be trusted with your own survival" (V.I.K.I). To what extent is this true? Use examples from 'I,Robot' to show your understanding.
 * Essay question 1 **

**Essay question 2** Spooner: "You are a clever imitation of life... Can a robot write a symphony? Can a robot take a blank canvas and turn it into a masterpiece?" Sonny: "Can you?" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Are human beings gaining more than they are losing, or losing more than they are gaining, in developing and using robots? Use examples from the film 'I,Robot'.

**Essay question 3** Did Sonny break any of the three laws. Explain your response using examples from 'I,Robot'.