Monkeys controlling Robots. Brain Power!

[regeneratorizer]

Monkey moves a robot with its brain (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/science/15robo.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=66480361b0e1ec3d&ex=1201064400&emc=eta1)

Yeah, this is crazy.

[varkarrus]

Oh. My. Gosh.

[souperzombie]

Z-O-M-G-O-S-H.
Monkeys are going to take us over with giant machines.

[Ryuinfinity]

This article is a hoax. I can tell. The have a lot of misspellings.

[Mr.Onion]

That's odd. I didn't see one at all.

[SpiderPumpkin]

That's odd. I didn't see one at all.
Neither did I. Maybe Ryuinfinity's computer was hacked by a thoughtful monkey.

[Ryuinfinity]

LOL. Actually, I reread the article and couldn't see any either. Weird.

[varkarrus]

It's not a hoax. People can play Space invaders with their brain.

[AtkinsSJ]

The one thing that got me is this line:
But until ways are found to safely implant electrodes into human brains, most research will remain focused on animals.
i.e., 'We're not sure this is safe, so we'll keep it to animals for now.' Though it is a breakthrough.

[Roland]

*Is very very tempted to ask why the Robot hadn't Upgraded its laser earlier, so it could blast back*

[TyTBone]

The one thing that got me is this line:

i.e., 'We're not sure this is safe, so we'll keep it to animals for now.' Though it is a breakthrough.

Personally, most of the time I think it's better to perform experiments on animals than humans, although a LOT of people would disagree with me. Although we are suppose to care for them, in my opinion they were put on this earth to be used for our benefit too, and that can mean doing useful experiments (note useful) on a monkey before a man or woman. I'll go ahead and say it: it's usually better for an animal to die than a human being, because humans ARE more worthy than most animals.
(now, if you DO have to perform experiments on humans, they should be performed on criminals, the worst of the worst...)

Just some thoughts...

[PlasmaCannonsRule]

Personally, most of the time I think it's better to perform experiments on animals than humans, although a LOT of people would disagree with me. Although we are suppose to care for them, in my opinion they were put on this earth to be used for our benefit too, and that can mean doing useful experiments (note useful) on a monkey before a man or woman. I'll go ahead and say it: it's usually better for an animal to die than a human being, because humans ARE more worthy than most animals.
(now, if you DO have to perform experiments on humans, they should be performed on criminals, the worst of the worst...)

Just some thoughts...

Ever seen Planet of the Apes?

[Mr.Onion]

Personally, most of the time I think it's better to perform experiments on animals than humans, although a LOT of people would disagree with me. Although we are suppose to care for them, in my opinion they were put on this earth to be used for our benefit too, and that can mean doing useful experiments (note useful) on a monkey before a man or woman. I'll go ahead and say it: it's usually better for an animal to die than a human being, because humans ARE more worthy than most animals.
(now, if you DO have to perform experiments on humans, they should be performed on criminals, the worst of the worst...)

Just some thoughts...
On what is that based?

[SpiderPumpkin]

it's usually better for an animal to die than a human being, because humans ARE more worthy than most animals.
I can't tell you how much I disagree with that. >_> Every living creature is "worth" the same and should have the same right to live.

The main problem with experiments performed on animals is that they're done against the animal's will and it can't do anything against that. If people were to perform an experiment on a human, they would (and would even have to) get their permission beforehand and the subject would be informed about what's going to happen, but that's not even possible with animals as it's very hard for us to communicate with them. Keeping this in mind, performing experiments on human volunteers would actually be a much more moral act than performing an experiment on a defenceless animal.

Not that there would even be a need to perform silly experiments like the one in the linked article; if it can't significantly improve the world, it's not worth researching anyway. All that could possibly result from this experiment is the option for rich people to turn themselves into the six million dollar man.

[Mr.Onion]

All that could possibly result from this experiment is the option for rich people to turn themselves into the six million dollar man.

And great benefits for the greatly disabled. Not all of us have a capitalistic health service! :p

[drgamer]

That video seems... off... It looks like a cgi monkey

And the robot is not even touching the treadmill

The way they did it, it could easily be a phony video... They could easily have synched the two walking strides together


I saw a much more impressive video of a monkey, in a tight "box" type thing (so it wouldn't do something like horribly move around and harm itself or something) and the monkey moved this robot arm to eat a banana (moved the arm towards itself; GO MONKEYS!)

[puffazoid]

Personally, most of the time I think it's better to perform experiments on animals than humans, although a LOT of people would disagree with me. Although we are suppose to care for them, in my opinion they were put on this earth to be used for our benefit too, and that can mean doing useful experiments (note useful) on a monkey before a man or woman. I'll go ahead and say it: it's usually better for an animal to die than a human being, because humans ARE more worthy than most animals.
(now, if you DO have to perform experiments on humans, they should be performed on criminals, the worst of the worst...)

Just some thoughts...

I'm willing to say that animal are here for our benefit, but what most people don't realize is that, like all animals, we are here for They're benetfit as well. (As in, Food.)
Whats a shame is that we have REALLY, REALLY, over used OUR benefits.
Jeez, this is getting off topic.
Umm... No testy on the monkey?
I depise animal testing, They should test on humans, But offer a monetary compensation for all problems encountered.

[Mr.Onion]

They should test on humans, But offer a monetary compensation for all problems encountered.

Touching the floor in this test chamber will result in an unsatisfactory mark on your report followed by death.

I'm going to toss in the opinion that neither of us [animals and humans] are here for each other as neither of us have a purpose. The only reason we can use them is because we are stronger.

[TyTBone]

Well, I'm glad this issue didn't get out of control. It can be a REALLY touchy subject with people.

Here are some of my answers to the questions posed above. I had to really pull my thoughts together before putting this on the site:

1) No, I’ve never seen “Planet of the Apes,” but I’ve heard a little bit about it. There were a series of movies, and – correct me if I’m wrong – they basically involved a civilization (or alternate dimension) of advanced primates who captured humans and put them into slave labor. Personally, I don’t ever see that happening; if anything other than more humans enslave us, it will be technology.

2) Okay, I need to go ahead and admit that I’m a Christian (a Seventh-day Adventist, to be specific). I base much of my beliefs on animals and their rights on the following: Gen. 1: 26-28 and my observations of life on earth. This isn’t saying much, but it still makes sense to me. (Note: I don’t think I should quote it here, since it’s a large passage and anyone can find it online.)
These verses – applied to our time period – essentially tell us to control wildlife and use it to our advantage. Before machinery and electricity, oxen were used to plow fields, horses were used for transportation, and of course fish, deer, chickens, etc. were (and are) used for food. Today, many of us can afford to give these animals a “break,” but others have taken their place. Monkeys, rats, mice, and other animals are used for preliminary experimentation and testing to develop medicines and other products for the greater good.
So why do I think – in this case – the majority of humans are more worthy to live/ avoid pain than animals? Because humans are more intelligent, have deeper feelings, and can change the world. (Sorry for the emotions; I’m trying to keep this logical.) I.e., animals have similar body structures as humans, but they don’t have much of a chance for a purpose in life.
Now, before you pin me to be another Michael Vick :!:, let me say I don’t enjoy the suffering of animals and “deliberate cruelty” towards them. (My family owns two adorable cats, 5 or so doves, and a love bird.) Indeed, the Bible also says, “A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal…” animal meaning livestock, cats, dogs, etc. Animals do have very basic rights, but if an experimental cure for cancer (but potentially damaging in certain cases) was to be tested, I’d prefer it to be done on rat, monkey, vile criminal (who would’ve been executed anyway) than a perfectly healthy person.
Ummm…I’m sure I’ve missed some bases here (volunteers are certainly a good idea, but how many people would actually volunteer?), and I’m 90% sure we’ll just have to agree to disagree :), but at least now you know more or less why I think humans are “more worthy” than animals.



On a brighter note, isn't it great we have freedom of speech (in most cases) on the Hamumu website?!

[Mr.Onion]

It's not a particulary long passage:

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Because humans are more intelligent, have deeper feelings, and can change the world.
You require an objective measure, or for that matter, a defintion of "intelligence" for the first claim. The only measure we've got is the average of humans, which isn't really fair is it? :p

Have you managed to communicate with animals and prove they have less feelings than us? Also, what do you mean by less?

Animals can also change the world. What do you think happened in the 3 billion years before we came along? (speaking from scientific theories.)

[regeneratorizer]

Didn't know a morality conversation would pop up in this topic. I think I'm going to stay out of this one.

....Myeah.

[WackieWatty]

I don't really see how they can prove that the monkey got the robot to move. Plus, the distance makes it most improbable to work. Seriously, there's plenty of intereference out there.

[drgamer]

I think it's called a 'hoax' :p

[Julian]

I think it's called a 'hoax' :p
It's in the NYT. :P

[drgamer]

Yes, and that makes it automatically 100% factually... It's not like the news has ever given out the wrong information/been misled/misled others!

[Julian]

Yes, and that makes it automatically 100% factually... It's not like the news has ever given out the wrong information/been misled/misled others!
If it's not true, it's illegal.

[Ufo-Man]

Wow. and I thought monkeys are animals who eat bananas, and smoke cigaretts....

[PurpleKoopa]

Let's see here...

regeneratorizer: Cool news article!
some people: Coooool.
some other people: I think it's a hoax
(me reading topic but not posting yet): Coooool.
AtkinsSJ: Hey this could hurt those poor widdle monkeys
TyTBone: That's not bad it's just experiments
PCR: Hey in Planet of the Apes there were animal people that were mean so there
Mr.Onion: Where's your research?
SpiderPumpkin: Nuh-uh animals have a will too and this is only good for rich people becoming robot people
puffazoid: Noooo everybody is an animal so they have to do it on peoples
Mr.Onion: Well we're still stronger than animals
TyTBone: Well, Planet of the Apes sounds weird. Here's my research why humans should live
Mr.Onion: Still wrong, our own intelligence is biased oh and animals changed the woooooorld
regeneratorizer: Sorry guys
everyone else right now: What's with that article?

Hey, everyone else is right. What is WITH that article? :p

[drgamer]

If it's not true, it's illegal.

Darn, I guess all those fiction books I have have to be hidden...

And I guess Propaganda will just be a theory. Anyone want to help me build a tower and call it Minitru?

[TyTBone]

Let's see here...

regeneratorizer: Cool news article!
some people: Coooool.
some other people: I think it's a hoax
(me reading topic but not posting yet): Coooool.
AtkinsSJ: Hey this could hurt those poor widdle monkeys
TyTBone: That's not bad it's just experiments
PCR: Hey in Planet of the Apes there were animal people that were mean so there
Mr.Onion: Where's your research?
SpiderPumpkin: Nuh-uh animals have a will too and this is only good for rich people becoming robot people
puffazoid: Noooo everybody is an animal so they have to do it on peoples
Mr.Onion: Well we're still stronger than animals
TyTBone: Well, Planet of the Apes sounds weird. Here's my research why humans should live
Mr.Onion: Still wrong, our own intelligence is biased oh and animals changed the woooooorld
regeneratorizer: Sorry guys
everyone else right now: What's with that article?

Hey, everyone else is right. What is WITH that article? :p

Geez...so I have and Mr. Onion have opinions :roll:

[drgamer]

Geez...so I have and Mr. Onion have opinions :roll:
Those were outlawed when The Party came into effect... Well, except for Mr. Onion, who is like the head of The Party or something

[Julian]

The Party has always been there. Mr. Onion was always at the head of the Party. We were always at war with Eastasia.

[TyTBone]

Those were outlawed when The Party came into effect... Well, except for Mr. Onion, who is like the head of The Party or something

What the deuce...? :)

[drgamer]

Use a time machine and travel to the not so distant future that is 1984. Or the present. I forget which.