In reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, students discussed the ways in which science fiction critiques humanity by creating artificial humans, or androids. The technologies employed by Phillip K. Dick in telling this classic story were also examined. Dr. Kevin Rigby, Associate Professor of Aeronautical Science, specializing in robotics and unmanned aerial systems, gave a guest lecture on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and its parallels with the historical development of robotics as a field.
Students developed pages on the science and technology developed in the novel to determine the plausibility of these portrayals.
Kaylee Cronberg researched different technologies that allow for us to experience augmented realities.
Nathan Kroboth discussed the feasibility of travel to Mars as it occurs in the novel.
Penny Mugford examined science fiction weapons from the novel, as they compare with our real world technological advancements.
Dexter Robinette researched mood enhancing technologies, the reasons for them and the ways in which they function.
These students all researched androids created by Dick in the novel and the possibility that these creations might one day interact with us in the real world.
Adam Berlier compared different ways of testing sentience in artificial intelligence.
Cory Edwards explored the different ways in which we have begun constructing artificial intelligence and inorganic life.
Mickael Faucher looked at threats posed by AI in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Patrick Hill explored the various qualities that make humans unique to better understand the technological requirements for constructing androids.
Clare Maloney examined artificial intelligence and the possibility of sentience in AI.
Zachary Lietzau considered the ethical treatment of artificial intelligence as it approaches consciousness.
Ryan Sitler, researched the requirements for developing AI with emotions and self awareness and then considered what potential threats could come from AI.
Jacob Volpe described threats posed by AI.
Georgina Wood examined the qualities that make us human to determine whether or not AI could ever become human-like.
In these pages, students explored the intersections between technology and neurological science in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.
Arianna Eskew researched the ways in which robotic technologies are being used to create artificially intelligent animal life, namely pet robots.
Philip Galiardo compared Dick's Nexus 6 with IBM's Watson and cognitive computing.
AJ Maiato analyzed how psychopathic tendencies emerge in representations of androids in works of science fiction.
Logan Thomas described mind altering drugs and mental health.
Evan Williams researched artificial neural networks to determine the feasibility of developing artificial intelligence.
In these pages, students examined social and political issues addressed by Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.
Connor Bishop examined the ways in which our perception influences the ways in which we view our reality and how advertising and propaganda have been used to change our perceptions of reality.
Mehmet Cakir compared the possibility of an android revolution with uprisings based on class and identity politics among humans.
Lucas Lesoeur contrasted portrayals of individualism and collectivism in the novel and compared them with existing social and economic systems.
Oneil Ramdeen explored the cognitive and emotional roots of empathy to determine whether empathy is a uniquely human trait.