RoboRoach: Control a cockroach with a smartphone.

Re:RoboRoach: Control a cockroach with a smartphone. by andyhmltn on Monday June 17, 2013 @06:04AM (#5892283)

Because I believe you aren't completely in control of the dog. Just like you aren't completely control of another human when using conversational techniques to make them do something.

You wouldn't be able to manipulate a dog into taking its own life, but with this cockroach you would against its will.

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Re:RoboRoach: Control a cockroach with a smartphone. by rdouble on Monday June 17, 2013 @06:18AM (#5892317)

It's pretty easy to make a whippet run into heavy traffic merely by throwing a ball.

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Re:RoboRoach: Control a cockroach with a smartphone. by alegen on Monday June 17, 2013 @06:41AM (#5892395)

I agree it is easy but are you the kind of person to kill a dog without any reason? This statement implies that it is ethical to do so.

The people behind this project say that it is for educational purposes, but really now.. how many people will use it that way?

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Re:RoboRoach: Control a cockroach with a smartphone. by rdouble on Monday June 17, 2013 @06:46AM (#5892409)

I was answering the question whether or not it is possible to manipulate a dog to take it's own life. I think it is possible. I do not think it's ethical, though. However, it might be, if the dog was Cujo.

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Re:RoboRoach: Control a cockroach with a smartphone. by andyhmltn on Monday June 17, 2013 @11:38AM (#5893771)

Great point. But there's a huge difference between throwing a ball that an animal chases and sending electrical impulses into its brain to physically make it run into the traffic.

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Re:RoboRoach: Control a cockroach with a smartphone. by user24 on Monday June 17, 2013 @06:25AM (#5892345)

Trust me, they'd run into traffic without the ball too.

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