The twenty-first century is a technological era. Society continues to thrive and advance with the rapid spread of new information, innovation, and intelligence. We continue to benefit from smartphones, AIs, autonomous cars, and great leaps in assistive biomedical technology.
Almost all modern-day devices are some variation of a robot, which are machines capable of replicating human movements and automatic functions. The first robot emerged in the late 1940s. British robotics pioneer William Grey Walter invented Elmer, robots programmed to find their charging stations, in 1948. George Devol and Joseph Engelberger shortly created Unimate, the world’s first industrial and digitally operated robot, in 1961. Unimate was integral to making manufacturing a safer process. The machine transported and welded die castings from an assembly line in place of workers, who could be poisoned by toxic fumes or several injured. Unimate was later inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame in 2003 and memorialized in DC Comics books.
Since then, robotics has made leaps and bounds across disciplines. Beyond their efficiency in industrial manufacturing, robots are also used in space exploration, surgery, psychology, and even entertainment. As robots continue to inspire international collaboration, more students get drawn in by the field’s creativity and originality. New techniques are always needed to solve the world’s ongoing problems, making it essential for developers to “think outside the box” with regards to technology.
It is quite common to find students passionate about the engineering workforce. With over 10 million engineers worldwide, programs like FIRST Robotics and Science Olympiad encourage students globally to test their limits and push their scientific capabilities. However, gender inequality and the under representation of women remains a prevalent issue. Only 28% of the modern STEM workforce is composed of women, with the gap being more evident in the fastest-growing and highest-paid fields of computer science and engineering.
Several complex factors perpetuate gender gaps in STEM fields. A combination of gender stereotypes, a lack of role models, and intrinsic math anxiety discourages girls from pursuing STEM careers; by college, only 21% of engineering majors are women. While more supportive programs are being implemented to provide girls with the confidence to succeed in science and math, the lack of interest and participation in STEM remains a significant problem.
Gender bias is also reflected in artificial intelligence. While the female avatar commonly applied in Siri, Alexa, and other AI assistance help establish an empathetic connection with the user, it also originates from historical perceptions of gender roles in artificial intelligence. Ever since the invention of Eliza, the first chatbot, conversation companions across the world continued to adopt female persona; in Japan, the AI dating simulator Erica had personalities ranging from “conservative” to “sassy & stylish.” In contrast, physical robots such as Atlas from Boston Dynamics take on distinctly male shapes, subtly pushing the stereotype that male forms are stronger. However, one’s perception of gender roles in robotics is reflective of the physical world, limiting women to domestic nurturers while men control the social, political, and financial sphere. Researchers Florian Dufour and Celine Ehrwein Nihan noted that “when no objective characteristics of robots are known, social beliefs about gender will have a strong influence on the perceiver’s judgments.” The fact that gender conventions can be easily spotted in AIs continues to reflect how far our society has left to achieve gender equality.
Efforts to equalize engineering and encourage girls to pursue STEM are now as important as ever, not only for a stronger economy but also to build the confidence of future generations.
More female engineers come with more perspectives, more inventions, and future role models to uphold the cycle. Dr. Cynthia Breazeal is one of the many strong female leaders in robotics who leads the way with revolutionary technology.
Dr. Breazeal received a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara, then completed a doctorate in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2000. Early into her college career, Breazeal challenged herself to create several robots. Her curiosity and passion for interaction led her to develop Kismet, Cog, and a robotic Hannibal to investigate expressive conversations with humanoid robots.
Dr. Breazeal is now a media art and sciences associate professor at MIT. Her work with artificial intelligence, user interface, and psychology personifies AI to promote personal growth and understanding. She also leads The Bridge, part of the MIT Quest for Intelligence that immerses K-12 students in STEM, preparing them for a future in AI and robotics. Breazeal has received numerous recognitions for her work. From being featured on TIME magazine’s best inventions to winning the National Academy of Engineering’s Gilbreth Lecture Award, Breazeal’s work continues to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence and human-robot interactions.
Breazeal is renowned for creating Jibo, the world’s first family robot, who is capable of bringing busy families together. Jibo uses voice and face recognition to help remember up to sixteen people at a time, and personalize the experience with each one. Alongside the black screen face, he also has cameras and sensors throughout to allow life-like responses. Standing at a towering twelve inches, Jibo’s curious head tilts, and emotive white eyes are just like the Pixar lamp. Jibo takes Amazon Alexa to the next level; not only can he relay messages and complete menial tasks, but he can also initiate conversations about one’s day. The neural networks allow Jibo to keep learning, improving conversations, and developing a personality over time.
Jibo continues to stand the test of time. The robot continues to be a role model for emotional, intelligent technology six years after its invention. Dr. Breazeal continues to work on Jibo and smart robots that can communicate and leave a life-long impact as the founder and chief scientist of Jibo, Inc.
Dr. Brezeal is one of the strongest women in robotics and continues to pave the way for future women in STEM. The organizations and breakthroughs led by her, and several other female scientists show just how much is possible. However, even the smallest action will help bridge the gender gap in robotics, and you can be a part of it. From starting a robotics team to posting on Instagram, everyone is capable of building an equal, brighter future.
By: Clarise Liu
References: (Read More about Robotics Here!)
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