In the early 1900’s, the first mention of ‘robots’ were coined by the Czech Playwright, Karel Čapek in his play Russumovi Univerzální Roboti (Rossums Universal Robots, also known as R.U.R). The play had its first world premiere in 1921 and introduced the word ‘robot’ to the English language and science fiction as a whole.
In Rossumovi Univerzální Roboti, Čapek presents a world where robots are created as workers to serve and labour for humanity. However, in a dramatic revolt, the robots annihilate the human race in order to explore the meaning of human existence and experience life as humans do.
The first humanoid ‘robot’ built by Roy Wensley, with the intent to automate a household, was that of Televox. Similar to that of Google Home, Televox had the ability to turn off your appliances at home from a phone call.
Televox operated as a remote-controlled device, responding to electric signals and frequencies to perform basic tasks like lifting a phone receiver or operating switches. It had no autonomous capabilities and relied entirely on human interaction to complete tasks.
After being concerned by the 1923 showing of Čapeks Russumovi Univerzální Roboti in Japan, Makoto Nishimura sought to produce a different kind of robot, an “artificial human” that aimed to celebrate nature and humanity, with an overall kinder, more human-like appearance than the skeletal versions that had been produced prior.
Gakutensoku was mostly made of rubber, and its movements were created using compressed air; as opposed to steam, to mimic the softness of human movements.
Unfortunately, in the 1930’s, the gentle giant went missing whilst in transit and has not been recovered since.
Acme Telepictures/NEA (1928) Televox and R. J. Wensley 1928. [Photograph] Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=televox&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image
Čapek, K. (1920). Cover of the First Edition of R.U.R. [Photograph of Book Cover] Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosumovi_Univerz%C3%A1ln%C3%AD_Roboti_1920.jpg.
Čapek, K. (1921). Russumovi Univerzální Roboti.
Wikipedia (1928). Gakutensoku (學天則). [Photograph] . Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gakutensokuold.jpg.
