Comments on: Science beats fiction in Robot Hall of Fame

Three of the four robots inducted this year by Carnegie Mellon were made by real scientists, not writers or directors.
Photos: 2007 Robot Hall of Fame inductees

[drewbyh]

Android rather than robot.....

I'd call Data an android rather than a robot as he was created to resemble, mimic and learn from humans. While a robot is often created in the image of humans, they are more often created and preprogrammed to replace human performed tasks which is not the function of an android.

[ajhoughton]

Androids are still robots

Data is certainly an android, as are many science fiction robots (but
relatively few real-life robots, at least by proportion). However,
"android" is still a class of robot, so he's a robot as well.

BTW, the task to which a robot is put has nothing to do with
whether or not the robot is an android. The term specifically relates
to the *form* of the device, not its function.

[IzzyCarlisle]

Wow! Data. Really? I may not belong on this site (it was only a link), but may I say that Carnegie Mellon University was where the utterly spectacular Mr. Zachary Quinto studied, who plays the new Spock in 'Star Trek' (and Sylar in 'Heroes'). Rather a coincidence... still, I am a large (but fairly new - only just 16 and started watching since April) fan of Star Trek, so I'd suppose it is to thank for my growing interest in robotics and other scientific FACT as well as FICTIONAL things. Still, Data is, and perhaps will always be my favourite NG character, for the reasons mentioned. Glad to see his ongoing struggle for humanity being applauded as the intriguing and educational journey that it was.

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