book review

book review

How to Survive a Robot Uprising: tips on defending yourself against the coming rebellion by Daniel H. Wilson

This book arrived a few days ago in the mail. I expected that it might take me a while to read this book, but I was wrong. I read it in one sitting, in just over an hour.

It is a fun read, with lots of humour. The book is divided into several parts, each of which begins with a quote from the Terminator, Lost in Space, the Matrix, or Futurama. It doesn't take itself too seriously, drawing heavily upon scenarios presented in cheesy science fiction movies:

Today, scientists are working hard to bring these arificial creations to life. In Japan, fuzzy little real robots are delivering much appreciated hug therapy to the elderly. Children are frolicking with smiling robot toys. It all seems so innocuous. And yet how could so many Hollywood scripts be wrong? How could millions of dollars of special effects lead us astray? So take no chances. Arm yourself with expert knowledge. For the sake of humanity, listen to serious advice from real robotics experts. How else will you survive the inevitable future in which robots rebel against their human masters?

Hidden underneath the humour, sneaky-like, is an introduction to robotics: how each robot is a combination of sensors, software, and effectors; the various types of sensors; the different types of robot bodies; and the state of the art in AI. While on the surface the book is about how to defeat future robot overlords (number one technique: go for the eyes; or with giant walking robots: aim for the legs) it is really about the current state of robotics research: what types of robots are out there now, their strengths and their weaknesses, and the challenges faced by roboticists. The reader is eased into learning about things like hyperspectral cameras, proprioception, gait recognition, and smart houses.

Wilson also gives advice on what to do if robots actually do take over, although some of that advice applies to other TSHTF emergencies as well; advice on bugging out works equally well if the impetus is a robot uprising or a hurricane or a nuclear war.

The artwork by Richard Horne, spread throughout the book, complements the subject matter well. Various illustrations show evil robots plotting humanity's demise, people getting zapped by giant walking robots, a guy fighting back with a crowbar, an electromagnetic pulse destroying all robots, plus lots of little illustrations approximately every second page.

I enjoyed this book, and recommend it for that hard-to-buy-for mad scientist (or curious kid of any age) on your holiday shopping list.

Technorati Tags: Books, Humor