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 Sciences, specializing in robots 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.
Matheus da Silva researched the feasibility of creating the Penfield Mood Organ, given today's technological advancements.
Logan Farrell examined the ethical and technological issues raised by science fiction with the creation lethal automous weapons systems.
Dustin Gibson considered the ways in which virtual realities have expanded across science fiction and our current realities, beginning with PKD's depiction of Mercerism.
Eric Heines researched the ways in which body-enhancing technologies lead to ethical concerns in science fiction and reality.
Christopher Leirer looked at whether the Voight Kampff is a good test for humanity, comparing it with the Turing Test and studies on empathy.
These students all researched androids created by Dick the novel, and the possibility that these creations might one day interact with us in the real world.
Julian Avila examined the ways in which concepts of morality play a role in the creation of androids.
Celine Bounds asked how readers distinguish Rachel Rosen as a psychopath or android, using research on ethics and the psychological classifications of sociopath and psychopath .
Savanah Fulbright looked at advancements in robotics that have resulted in androids, what we have to fear from robots, and how humans and robots compete for jobs.
Banin Jafri explored whether or not androids could ever be capable of feeling empathy.
Aditi Korat examined interactions between humans and robots in office environments and compared them with similar portrayals of humans and robots in works of science fiction.
Zachary Lietzau considered the ethical treatment of artificial intelligence as it approaches consciousness.
Kevin Lim, researched the possibility of humans marrying androids and other human-robot interactions that could evolve with advances in A.I.
Anuj Suresh looked at the integration of robots in society, as compared with sf examples, focusing on love, the arts, medical research, and military applications.
Syed Abbas researched the ways in which AI could seek to evolve into a higher consciousness and how such an evolution could threaten humanity through job depreciation or even natural selection.
Christopher Adams examined the viability of artificial intelligence in a future society by looking at those traits that are considered uniquely human, like empathy and morality.
Jamey Combs analyzed the future of autonomous robots and the risks they could pose to humanity.
Tina Isenard used science fiction to better understand what makes us human and whether robots could someday be considered human.
Gavin James explored the maze of consciousness portrayed in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Westworld to better understand the spiritual questions posed by A.I.
Dan Jones investigated applications for Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics in various A.I. video games and workds of science fiction. He also looked at robotics in self-driving cars.
Dillon Piotrkowski researched threats to privacy and manufacturing jobs posed by A.I.
In these pages, students examined social and political issues addressed by Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.
Daniel Bussey compared drug use in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and other works of science fiction to drug use in contemporary reality.
Devin Edwards examined the "Kippling Effect" in today's world, using economic theories of scarcity.
Jake Kim considered the impact of socio-political issues, like fear of nuclear war and global warming, on works of science fiction, including Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.