Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:55 — 6.2MB)
A radio show sponsor is to give away as a contest prize, a mechanical man, a robot. XR23 is 6 feet tall, made of metal, yet with human like features. The robot responds to voice requests, even in doing the most petty of tasks. The radio DJ tries to show how gentle the robot can be the robot still needs some tweaks in that department.
Happy Sam, the happy man goes into his on air spiel. Hey, how about those Krylon suits. I wonder if that’s where Krylon paint got its name? Michael the Mechanical Man takes center stage. Don’t you just love the way that computator made the selection for the winner? Two way TV sets? I wonder if that is supposed to be the Internet?
The story shifts to the couple who won. The wife has some mental insability, and too much excitement might upset the apple cart of her mind. As she gets braced to recieve the prizes her husband goes to get Michael the Mechanical Man. I think her neighbor lady friend is a tiny bit jealous of her winnings. John, the husband is skeptical that the robot will be little more than a child’s toy.
Though John is somewhat afraid of the strength and potential of the robot, XR23, Mary seems to take comfort in the robot. She gives him commands and teaches the robot to love. But can a robot truly love? Or is it just responding to commands?
If a robot can love, it might just as easily learn to hate and kill. That lady neighbor better watch out. The worried husband tries to intervene, but should he be worrying? The experts say there’s nothing to worry about. What could happen? Robots can’t kill. They’re just not programmed to do that… right?
Note: To hear this episode, with some comments by Keith, check out 2000 Plus 500830 The Robot Killer. (retro281)
PS: This episode is Retrobot approved.
