I-Robot



This film is set in 2035 A.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

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

1) Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future? Why? (5-6 sentences) 2) How different will your city be in the year 2035? How? (5-6 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.

1) What is the meaning of the movie title, 'I-Robot'? 2) Do you think Sonny, the robot, was an 'imitation of life' or 'alive'? 3) Do you like to buy the latest electronic gadgets? Will we ever have new versions of the robots like other gadgets? 4) What is artificial intelligence? Do you think artificial intelligence can become a person? 5) Have you read the story of 'Hansel and Gretel'? Why did Spooner find the book 'Hansel and Gretel'? Why was it used as a clue?
 * Activity 2: Post-viewing questions **

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