Contents Preface introduction unit 1

In small groups discuss the following questions:

1. 
   What films have you seen with robots in?
   
2. 
   Do you like films with robots? Why/not?
   
3. 
   What were the abilities of the film robots?
   
4. 
   Do you think that robots with these abilities will ever exist?
   
5. 
   Do you think that in the future robots will become a normal part of our lives?
   

3. 
   Get introduced with the names and categories of robots, then match them with their right functions.
   

Name of robot	Robot category	Function
ABB Robot	Industrial Robot	a) The robot can explore the surface of Mars.
Asimo	Humanoid Robot	b) The robot can provide reconnaissance and neutralize military targets.
HRP-4C	Humanoid Robot	c) The robot can lift patients from one place to another.
iRobot Rumba	Domestic Robot	d) The robot build industrial goods such as cars.
Mars Rover	Rover	e) The robot provides entertainment.
Predator	Military Robot	f) The robot can mimic a wide range of human expression.
Riba	Medical Robot	g) The robot can observe and neutralize military targets.
TALON	Military Robot	h) The robot can vacuum a residence.
Zoomer	Toy Robot	i) The robot can act as valet.

4. 
   Read the text intensively. Individually or in pairs, try to predict the meaning of underlined words.
   

A Japanese company started selling futuristic home robot on September. The meter-high humanoid may make housework outdated – for the rich. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries put its internet-linked Wakamaru robot on sale at a price of $ 150,000. Just 100 of these home helps will initially be available. The robot is the idea of Japanese designer Toshiyuki Kita. He said his creation was “designed in the shape of a human being so that it is not considered simply a machine” and that it has an “independent personality”. The robot has an impressive number of features. It is capable of recognizing up to ten individuals by name and has a vocabulary of 10,000 words. It can also navigate its way around the house. The Wakamaru website explains three major functions that will help the lives of the robot’s users: It can live with the family and provide daily schedules; it can speak with the family and be a friend; and it has its own role of looking after the house when no one is home. However, the price needs to come down to make it affordable by all.

5.