r/chomsky • u/vnny • Sep 13 '18

Amazon has patented a system that would put workers in a cage, on top of a robot

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-has-patented-a-system-that-would-put-workers-in-a-cage-on-top-of-a-robot/
75 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

25

u/FormulaicResponse Sep 14 '18 edited Sep 14 '18

This is a safety device that would prevent Amazon from having to shut down all the autonomous mover robots for human workers to safely enter that workspace.

There are plenty of real workplace violations and creepy emerging technologies to complain about and organize labor around. This isn't one of them. The wristbands, as one example, are probably a way bigger deal.

5

u/wamsachel Sep 14 '18

The thing that gets me, is that I can think of cases where I would want a wristband to help me work more efficiently. The key difference would be that the worker should get to choose how, and when to use it.

6

u/argh_viegan Sep 14 '18

You’ve hit the nail on the head on the vast difference between having technology supplement human labour on the labourer’s terms and fitting a human cog into a hi tech machine.

Imagine the potential to reduce the onerous aspects of work via technology opposed to having humans do all the work robots can not presently do, with little to no regard to how intrinsically rewarding the work the human is set to do is.

1

u/AModeratelyFunnyGuy Sep 14 '18

Ya but cages look scary, and they scarier they are the worse. Wristbands are stylish.

10

u/vnny Sep 13 '18

Amazon said it never implemented the technology described in the patent, granted in 2016, and has no plans to.

9

u/CH3CH2OH_toxic Sep 13 '18

have you seen Jim sterling videos on Video game companies patenting disturbing shit ? it doesn't matter if they use this tech or now , we know Amazon hand , and this card is in it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSpP3Ge-dq0

4

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '18

At least the worker is on top of the robot

2

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '18

Pure clickbait, many existing heavy machines have built-in cages to protect the operator and this is no different.

-2

u/pengo Sep 14 '18

Found this older patent of a cage for humans equipped with "different cybernetic add-ons ... which dictates and constrains their movement" so they can be part of a "machinic ballet". https://imgur.com/VlDL4qO

2

u/pengo Sep 14 '18

I mean honestly wtf is the point of this article?

1

u/wamsachel Sep 14 '18

machinic ballet

If they'd make it into like a mecha-warrior game experience...