Hardware Podcasts

432: Robot Bechdel Test

Embedded.fm · 27 Oct 2022 · 1h 08m · Episode 432

What this episode covers

Science fiction author Martha Wells discusses her award-winning Murderbot Diaries series, explaining how a SecUnit construct hacks its governor module to secretly watch TV dramas while performing security jobs. She details the creation of her fantasy Books of the Raksura, which features non-human species and biological technology, and shares insights into her 'pantsing' writing style and the challenges of maintaining continuity without outlines. Wells also touches on her experience writing tie-in novels for Star Wars and Stargate Atlantis, and the importance of cover art in setting reader expectations.

Most relevant to

established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Tor.com, Subterranean Press
Products
Murderbot Diaries, Books of the Raksura, Star Wars, Stargate Atlantis
Also
Jamie Jones, Tommy Arnold

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 52m

    The Wild Robot: Where Nature Meets Technology with Peter Brown

    Author and illustrator Peter Brown discusses the creation of his children's book series The Wild Robot and its adaptation into a DreamWorks animated film that has grossed over $320 million worldwide. Brown explains his intentional design choices for the protagonist, Roz, including her humanoid form inspired by C-3PO to foster empathy, and his research into robotics at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He details how he balanced scientific accuracy with narrative needs, such as giving Roz specific limitations like battery life to create tension, while aiming to present a positive, non-dystopian view of robots in society.

    Industrial & consumer product designPrototyping & iteration
    10 chapters

  • Robot Talk · 28m

    Episode 78: Connecting science fiction and fact - Stephen Oram

    Stephen Oram, an author at Nudge the Future Fiction, discusses his work in applied science fiction, exploring the intersection of messy humans and imperfect technology through collaborations with institutions like the Bristol Robotics Lab and King's College London. He explains how his recent collection, Extracting Humanity, stems from projects involving weather AI and defense scenarios, aiming to highlight ethical issues and the experiences of vulnerable populations. Oram argues that near-future sci-fi serves as a crucial conversation tool to navigate the rapid pace of technological change, moving beyond simple aspiration to examine realistic, mundane integrations of robotics into daily life.

    AI & machine learningRobotics & autonomy
    8 chapters

  • Robot Talk · 52m

    Episode Fifty-Four: Robot Talk Live - Robotics and Science Fiction

    Clare Asher hosts a live discussion at the Great Exhibition Road Festival with Glyn Morgan of the Science Museum, Bani Anvari of University College London, and Thrishantha Nanayakara of Imperial College London to explore the intersection of robotics and science fiction. Glyn Morgan argues that science fiction serves as a cognitive tool and 'laboratory of the mind,' shaping public perception through iconic figures like Robbie the Robot and R2-D2 while often misdirecting debate toward 'robot uprisings' rather than real-world ethical issues. Bani Anvari details her research on intelligent mobility, including drone logistics, autonomous shuttles, and haptic feedback in vehicles, highlighting the gap between predictable environments and unpredictable edge cases involving vulnerable road users. Thrishantha Nanayakara explains how his Morphlab uses soft robotics to study biological principles, such as mountain goat hooves, and applies these insights to develop robotic patients for medical training and environmental monitoring robots for the Alps.

    Robotics & autonomyAI & machine learning
    8 chapters

  • Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast · 52m

    060 - The Brie List

    Hosts Alvaro and Jen celebrate the 5-year anniversary of the Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast with a retrospective on their personal and professional lives. Jen discusses her transition to voiceover work, her new role in research, and her ethical concerns regarding robotics, while Alvaro highlights the podcast's most popular episodes and the success of the Asahi Linux project. They also promote the book Open Circuits by Wendell and Eric, sharing a discount code for listeners.

    Creator businessRobotics & autonomy
    5 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Embedded.fm. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.