HEATHFIELD GIRLS TAKE PART IN NATIONAL
SURVEY TO LOOK AT FUTURE OF ROBOTS
March 17, 2016
YOUNG students from Heathfield School in Ascot have taken part in a nationwide
survey of Year 7 girls looking at how they see the role of robots in the future.
The survey, organised by the Girls’ Schools Association to mark Science Week,
asked Year 7 girls in the independent schools they represent: ‘What role do you think
robots will have in 50 years’ time?’
The GSA was inundated with imaginative responses and incisive comment.
Along with other girls in schools around the UK, doing the cleaning, childcare, driving
the car and cleaning up rubbish were popular answers.
But some Heathfield girls also envisaged a future where robots would become
‘expert doctors and scientists because they could cure anything’ or freely explore
space ‘because they don’t need any oxygen’ or even shape-shift and transform
themselves into any everyday object to help humans.
One suggested robots would be made of ‘various complex systems to control them’
and would wear ‘human DNA visible on their legs’.
Form I student India also outlined a vision where everyone would become
completely reliant on personal robots – even to the extent of sending them to work
for them.
She said: ‘Everyone will be really lazy as they don’t have to do anything for
themselves because robots will do it for them. Everyone will have their own personal
robot and it will clean, cook and even work for you so that you never have to go to
work because your robots will earn your money for you.’
Another student suggested a homework robot would in the future ‘do all your
homework so that you will have time to relax’.
Meanwhile, Form I student Lily tapped into everyone’s primal fears by wondering
whether robots might take over total control and subjugate humans.
She said: ‘If robots took over our jobs, there would be a massive problem with
unemployment and we might be treated as pets - and the owners – robots!
Lily also wondered whether humans would be happy replying on robot surgeons who
could not empathise with them and show sympathy or robot babysitters who could
not understand their children’s emotions.
Her classmate Sibylla designed her own ‘Dustivator’ to manage pollution in the future
by ‘getting rid of rubbish and pooing it out as candy!’
Heathfield Head Jo Heywood said: ‘I am delighted my Form I girls showed such
imagination when they took part in this national survey – considering thoughtfully
both the ups and downs of robots in the future – and clearly having some fun along
the way!
‘As a girls’ school, we embrace National Science Week as a way to look at a variety
of topics connected to Science Technology Engineering and Maths and to
encourage our girls, young and old, to connect with the Sciences.’
For further information: contact Liz Ivens on 07584 121388