https://www.ted.

com/talks/guy_hoffman_robots_with_soul
Guy Hoffman; Robots with soul
Watch the video until 3:31 and answer these questions.
Apprentice: Does he have skills to do the job alone yet? No.
Graceful: The dancers move gracefully. They are graceful. Is
this an attractive movement? Yes.
Fluent: Their movements are fluent. Is it a stop start
movement or smooth? Smooth.
MIT: Show a picture, its a school.
Trivial: Ive lost my chocolate bar, Im really sad. Oh, dont be
so trivial! Its only a chocolate bar! Is this a serious problem?
No, its a small problem. Its trivial.

1. What was Guys first robot? (a desk lamp)
2. What were robots like when he first started studying them?
(they had robotic, mechanical movements)
3. Why was his robot different? (it was more human, a quiet
apprentice)
Watch the video until 6:58 and answer these questions.
Chess game: Describe game then show picture
Revelation: When he studied acting, he had a revelation. You
can mix acting techniques with robots! Was this a new idea?
Yes. So it hadnt been done before? No. Was it surprising? Yes.
Improvisation/improvise: Watch the video of the man playing
guitar and say, hes improvising. Is it planned? No.

1. How does he say that robots and humans interact? (like a game
of chess, by doing actions in turns).
2. What did he study next? (acting).
https://www.ted.com/talks/guy_hoffman_robots_with_soul
3. What did he learn about method acting? (that you dont plan
movements but use your body to find the right movement).
4. How did he apply this to robotics? (he made a robot that could
copy our movements).

Watch the video until 8.50 and answer these questions.
Tedious: Doing lots of grammar worksheets is tedious. Is it
boring? Yes. Does it take longer than you want? Yes.
Adventurous: Tom likes to travel, skydive and bungee jump.
Hes really adventurous. Does he take risks? Yes. Does he like
exciting situations? Yes.
Calculated: Chris is a calculated man. For his business trip, he
planned all the details, times of flights, costs etc. Was this a
careful plan? Yes. Did he take any risks? No.
Committed. Robert was in a long distance relationship but he
stayed with his girlfriend because he was committed to her.
Was it difficult knowing his girlfriend was so far away? Yes.
But did he end their relationship? No, as he was committed.

1. What was different about the two brains in the desk lamp?
(one was a calculated brain that planned its actions in turns,
and one was an adventurous brain that took risks and made
mistakes).
2. What did people think about the adventurous brain? (they
thought it was more intelligent, committed and contributed to
the success of the team they called it he or she).
3. What did people think about the calculated brain? (they
thought it was a lazy apprentice that it did what it was meant
to do and nothing more they called it an it).
https://www.ted.com/talks/guy_hoffman_robots_with_soul
4. Why was this surprising? (because it showed that people have
higher expectations for robots than anybody in robotics
thought robots should be doing).
Watch the video until 13:30 and answer these questions.
Jam: When two or more musicians improvise together is the
music planned? No. They just play.
Riffing-off: When one guitarist starts to play, the other
listens and riffs-off what they are playing. Does he listen to
the other guitarist? Yes. Does he play something similar after?
Yes. But is it the same thing? No, he uses it to play something
new.
Full-fledged (adj): completely developed. He passed his exams
in software engineering then he got a job. Hes a full-fledged
software engineer now! Has he finished his training? Yes. Does
he have all the skills? Yes. A part of the company team? Yes.
Co-ordinate: In his job, James has to co-ordinate with another
software engineer to complete a new programme. Does he work
alone? No, he works with someone. He co-ordinates with them.

1. What did his Jazz teacher say happens when you improvise?
(you dont know what youre doing but still do it)
2. Why is the musician surprised by the robot? (because it
creates interesting music).
3. Apart from playing music, how do musicians communicate? (with
their bodies).
4. What happens when the robot with the head plays the last
chord? (it looks at the musician to co-ordinate the beat).

https://www.ted.com/talks/guy_hoffman_robots_with_soul
Watch the video to the end and answer these questions.
Engaging: the film on hackers was really engaging. Was it
interesting? Yes. Did you turn from the screen on keep
watching? I kept watching. Yes, because it was engaging.

1. What happens when the robot looks at the rapper? Why? (the
rapper looks at the robot its hard to resist).
2. What did people like the most about the robot? (that is was
enjoying the music)
3. What secret are roboticists hiding? (that everyone will live
with a robot at some point in their lives or their childrens
lives).
4. How does he want these robots to be? (fluent, engaging and
graceful)
Discussion
Do you agree with his final statement, people will live with a
robot at some point in their lives.
What jobs will we use robots for in the future?
If we live with robots in the future, is it a good thing to make
them more human, to create a soul or should they be kept as
machines? Give a list of positive and negative points for each.

https://www.ted.com/talks/guy_hoffman_robots_with_soul
ROLE PLAY
Character One: A mother of three you dont want human robots in
your childrens lives because they could be dangerous. Robots should
be kept as machines to help adults do tasks.
Character Two: Elderly Woman you love the idea of human robots
because life is very lonely on your own. It would be nice to have a
friendly helper around the house who never gets too tired.
Character Three: A mechanic youre worried about human robots
being able to replace you in your job. If customers like them and
they dont get tired, perhaps companies will no longer use people.
Character Four: Artist youre excited about the idea of human
robots and their ability to create music and act. Youre not worried
because you dont think a robot will ever replace human creativity.