Themes (326)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 13 min
- Kinolab
- 2016
“Hidden Figures” chronicles the journeys of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), three black women who worked on the space missions at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia in 1961. All three women persist against segregation and abject racism as they climb the ladder and make important contributions to the space mission. While Katherine becomes the first black woman on Al Harrison’s Space Task Group, Mary Jackson pursues her dream of becoming an engineer at NASA by petitioning to take courses at an all white school, and Dorothy Vaughan attempts to learn the programming language Fortran in order to ensure that herself and fellow human computers are not replaced by the newest IBM 7090 computer.
- Kinolab
- 2016
Hidden Figures Part I: Goals of Equity and Women of Color in the Workplace
“Hidden Figures” chronicles the journeys of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), three black women who worked on the space missions at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia in 1961. All three women persist against segregation and abject racism as they climb the ladder and make important contributions to the space mission. While Katherine becomes the first black woman on Al Harrison’s Space Task Group, Mary Jackson pursues her dream of becoming an engineer at NASA by petitioning to take courses at an all white school, and Dorothy Vaughan attempts to learn the programming language Fortran in order to ensure that herself and fellow human computers are not replaced by the newest IBM 7090 computer.
How is the history of the oppression of Black people in America responsible for a lack of diversity in workplaces, including those involving science and technology in the present? What do technology companies in the current day need to consider in order to ensure that their workforce is diverse and equitable? What does the specific case of Dorothy being initially denied access to the Fortran book reveal about the past and present accessibility of minority groups to fluency in digital technologies? What needs to happen inside of and outside of the technology industry to ensure better opportunities for women of color in technology-focused workplaces?
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 1982
Roy Batty is a rogue humanoid android, known as a “replicant,” who escaped his position as an unpaid laborer in a space colony and now lives among humans on Earth. After discovering that he only has a lifespan of four years, Roy breaks into the penthouse of his creator Eldon Tyrell and implores him to find a way to prolong his life. After Tyrell refuses and lauds Roy’s advanced design, Roy kills Tyrell, despite seeing him as a sort of father figure. After fleeing from the penthouse, he is found by android bounty hunter Rick Deckard, who proceeds to chase him across the rooftops. After a short confrontation with Deckard, Roy delivers a monologue explaining his sorry state of affairs.
- Kinolab
- 1982
Meaning and Duration of Android Lives
Roy Batty is a rogue humanoid android, known as a “replicant,” who escaped his position as an unpaid laborer in a space colony and now lives among humans on Earth. After discovering that he only has a lifespan of four years, Roy breaks into the penthouse of his creator Eldon Tyrell and implores him to find a way to prolong his life. After Tyrell refuses and lauds Roy’s advanced design, Roy kills Tyrell, despite seeing him as a sort of father figure. After fleeing from the penthouse, he is found by android bounty hunter Rick Deckard, who proceeds to chase him across the rooftops. After a short confrontation with Deckard, Roy delivers a monologue explaining his sorry state of affairs.
Should robots who are modeled to act like real humans be given a predetermined, short lifespan? Should robots who are modeled to act like real humans ever be expected to complete uncompensated work? How should creators of robots give their creations the opportunity to make meaning of their lives? Who is ultimately responsible to “parent” a sentient AI?
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- 4 min
- Kinolab
- 1982
While attempting to track down humanoid robots, or “replicants”, that he must kill, Officer Rick Deckard goes to Chinatown to analyze his singular piece of evidence; a snake scale. The scale is revealed to be from an android snake crafted within Chinatown.
- Kinolab
- 1982
Robotic Animals
While attempting to track down humanoid robots, or “replicants”, that he must kill, Officer Rick Deckard goes to Chinatown to analyze his singular piece of evidence; a snake scale. The scale is revealed to be from an android snake crafted within Chinatown.
Should android animals ever become too indistinguishable from their real counterparts? How might this be used for negative ends? How will engineered human and animal parts be distinguished from natural ones?
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- 12 min
- Kinolab
- 1982
In dystopian 2019 Los Angeles, humanoid robots known as “replicants” are on the loose, and must be tracked down and killed by bounty hunters. The normal role for replicants is to serve as laborers in space colonies; they previously were not meant to incorporate into human society. The first two clips demonstrate the Voigt-Kampff test, this universe’s Turing Test to determine if someone is a replicant or a human. While the android Leon is discovered and retaliates quickly, Rachel, a more advanced model of android, is able to hide her status as an android for longer because she herself believes she is human due to implanted memories. When this secret is revealed to Rachel, she becomes quite upset.
- Kinolab
- 1982
Distinguishing Between Robots and Humans
In dystopian 2019 Los Angeles, humanoid robots known as “replicants” are on the loose, and must be tracked down and killed by bounty hunters. The normal role for replicants is to serve as laborers in space colonies; they previously were not meant to incorporate into human society. The first two clips demonstrate the Voigt-Kampff test, this universe’s Turing Test to determine if someone is a replicant or a human. While the android Leon is discovered and retaliates quickly, Rachel, a more advanced model of android, is able to hide her status as an android for longer because she herself believes she is human due to implanted memories. When this secret is revealed to Rachel, she becomes quite upset.
Will “Turing Tests” such as the one shown here become more common practice if AI become seemingly indistinguishable from humans? In this universe, the principal criteria for discovering an android is seeing if they display empathy toward animals. Is this a fair criterion to judge a machine? Do all humans show empathy toward animals? If AI can replicate humans, do they need to disclose their status as an android? Why? What makes Rachel’s life less “real” than any other humans? What are the dangers of giving away human memories to AI?
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- 4 min
- Kinolab
- 2001
David and Joe, two humanoid androids known as “Mechas,” are captured to be featured in the “Flesh Fair.” In this horrifying attraction, ringmaster Lord Johnson-Johnson destroys Mechas in front of an enthusiastic crowd using brutal and painful torture methods. However, as David begs for his own life, the crowd hesitates.
- Kinolab
- 2001
Robots and Humankind Purists
David and Joe, two humanoid androids known as “Mechas,” are captured to be featured in the “Flesh Fair.” In this horrifying attraction, ringmaster Lord Johnson-Johnson destroys Mechas in front of an enthusiastic crowd using brutal and painful torture methods. However, as David begs for his own life, the crowd hesitates.
How can it be ensured that robots which very closely resemble humans do not face unjust punishment or torture solely on the basis of being robots? How likely is humankind to be totally tolerant of androids like the Mechas? Who can properly advocate for AI rights? Would there need to be AI in government for this to be effective?
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- 4 min
- Kinolab
- 2001
“Gigolo Joe” is an android sex worker in an imagined future in which “Mechas,” or humanoid robots, have risen to prominence after a climate disaster. He performs his duties without hiding the fact that he is an android.
- Kinolab
- 2001
Robots and Sex Work
“Gigolo Joe” is an android sex worker in an imagined future in which “Mechas,” or humanoid robots, have risen to prominence after a climate disaster. He performs his duties without hiding the fact that he is an android.
Could robots eventually replace sex workers? What are the ethical and economic implications of this? How will machines be able to perfect seduction?