Robot hand performs remote breast checks

NewScientist.com news service ^ | 15:41 05 July 2005 | Will Knight

[kenth]

The Borg doesn't seem so bad, now does it?

[Jonah Hex]

As a man, I find this quite disturbing. Perhaps it's because I can see the day coming when they use such an apparatus for prostate exams.

"Open the pod bay doors, HAL."

[Regulator]

Perhaps if a robot did the checking in a closed booth without a human directly looking at the physical aspect of the human, but only a monotor seeing possible contraband, it would make things more "proper", less a hassle

Ah yes, mechanizing the police state.

So much more palatable.

So when the robot malfunctions and crushes some woman's breast, a scene that could be an outtake from Robocop, will everyone just shrug and say, "that's the way it is?"

Americans live in a police state now because the entire planet uses us for a goddamn doormat. Restrict mass movement into this country - especially from third world, terror supporting countries - and this crap will end.

You're probably too young to remember, but there actually was a time in this country when you could get on an airplane without first showing your ID to an Ethiopian, then being searched by legal aliens (allegedly) from the Phillipines (a true story, which happened to me the other day at Dulles).

You couldn't have gotten anyone to believe it would come to this in 1965. It would have sounded like bad science fiction.

[ken5050]

You forgot the best news..the machine runs on two "AA" batteries..(g)

[Ingtar]

(not included)

[MEGoody]

Uh, I don't plan on being first in line for this one.

[CheneyChick]

The robotic grasper

DANG - this thing sounds scary. What if it has a short and it clamps down too hard? And how do you slap it?

[CharlieOK1]

LOL! the designer is pictured here...

[LibFreeOrDie]

Bad enough we women have to get our protuberances completely flattened during a mammogram, but now the exam might include being handled by that machine? Gross!! No thanks!

So when do we see a robot that does prostate exams?

[NRA2BFree]

Dear God, don't let Bubba find out about this.

He will be heartbroken to find out he's got competition. LOL

[bmwcyle]

When women invent.

[Ladysmith]

Hey, if this replaces The Squasher, I'm game! :o)

[ken5050]

or colonoscopies...

[No Blue States]

All the male robots immediately volunteered to do the exam for free.

[Jonah Hex]

or colonoscopies... (whimper)

Let's just hope they don't use Windows. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hex, but we've run into a problem and have to reboot you."

[aShepard]

In robotic monotone-

"Let me Shepard you onto the exam table!"

[LibFreeOrDie]

So you're saying the (male) inventors of this robot are a tad misogynist? :^)

[End Times Sentinel]

I didn't bother reading the article or any of the responses, 33 at this moment, but I'm surprised so many FReepers are interested in hand robotry.

Owl_Eagle

(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,

 it was probably sarcasm)

[bmwcyle]

If we can't be up close why not invent? Where is the camera? It needs a camera.

[RockinRight]

Bubba would BE a robot...