Replacing Human Beings by Robots. How to Tackle that Perspective by Technology Assessment

Abstract

‘May I help you?’, a friendly voice asks politely as one enters the main entrance of the hospital. The question was asked by a five feet tall robot which focuses on you with two digital cameras. Depending on your wishes the robot leads you to the emergency admission, to the patient you want to visit, or to the administration of the hospital. On the way to the emergency admission one meets robots that serve meals and feed patients, as well as autonomous wheelchairs that transport patients to different treatment or examination rooms. After physicians have finished their examination they ask a Software system to evaluate their diagnosis. Robots also dominate operating rooms. They assist in minimal invasive surgery, bore holes with high precision, cut tissue and sew the wound again, while the surgeon is sitting in a high-tech chair like a pilot and operates the robot with a joystick. In the intensive care unit all patients are monitored by robots that record blood pressure, pulse, oxygen level in the blood, etc., and are fed with information on the treatments the patient receives. From these data the robot can generate suggestions for further treatments.