In the book Wired for War P.W. Singer suggests that robotics is such a transformative technology and we are headed toward a singularity a point beyond which all the rules change. Inspired by the challenge of seeing through the fog of a period where the major trends change I designed a modified Delphi study to investigate the perceptions of 200 students at four universities. Four scenarios were developed; each posits a different institution driving the development of robotics. The questions to be studied are: How much consensus exists about where the technology is going, and if there is consensus on some direction, how desirable is that future? Using these responses we Propose and asses an improved approach to technology assessment.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Brauckmann, Michael Joseph

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-031113-164601

Advisor

• Wilkes, John M.

Year

• 2013

Date created

• 2013-03-11

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Society, Technology & Policy

Rights statement

• In Copyright