Robot or Not?

Listener David asks us several questions. We have many answers, but too few.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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Listener Gregory makes us wonder if pizza made, not in a truck, but in a separate wood-fired oven trailer, is a food truck… or perhaps something else?

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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Unlike us, Listener Jerry has spent his entire career on robots. Listener Jerry helps us understand why the term “cobot” exists, and what it really means. Thank you, Listener Jerry.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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Curiosity, c’est un robot! Robot de cuisine, ce n’est pas un robot!

Thanks to Listener Erik and the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Show Notes & Links

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Is a car wash a building with machinery in it or a robot? This question allows us to flip the “episodes since ‘Robot or Not’ was about robots” sign back to zero.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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The Encyclopedia Galactica defines a robot as a mechanical apparatus designed to do the work of a man. The marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation defines a robot as “Your Plastic Pal Who’s Fun to Be With.” The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy defines the marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetic Corporation as “a bunch of mindless jerks who’ll be the first against the wall when the revolution comes.”

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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Is a place overseas if you don’t have to go over a sea to get there?

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Show Notes & Links

"San Diego's newest overseas nonstop flight starts today"

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If you can’t hear part of this episode it’s because that part was in parentheses. Thanks to (Listener) Charlie for sending in this question.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Show Notes & Links

ATP 642

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Listener Joseph is unclear about where rafts fit into the whole boat hierarchy. We also toss some kayaks, canoes, and submarines into the water.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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Listener Steven makes a lot of assumptions about what games are card games, but we set him straight.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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Listener Tim asks us about when a walk becomes a hike. Is it about topology? Degree of difficulty? Those seeking hard and fast rules may be frustrated by the result.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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Just in time for Wimbledon, Listener Muhammad provides a “tennis robot” for us to judge. We issue a judgment, but we’re not particularly happy about it.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Show Notes & Links

Acemate Tennis Robot

Trajekt (baseball system)

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Listener Wes has a Scotland-based observation about whether baked potatoes are stuffed or dressed. Seems straightforward, innit?

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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Listener Santiago wonders if a ‘wolf-inspired’ vehicle from Kawasaki is a robot, a metal horse, or just a vehicle.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Show Notes & Links

Kawasaki’s wolf-inspired, four-legged robot lets riders traverse uneven terrain

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Listener Paul has heard the term “cobot” to refer to “collaborative robots,” but can a robot that requires a human to function really be a robot?

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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Listener Griffin wonders what you could put on pasta that would arguably make it a sauce. John probably considers this sacrilege, but here we are.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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Listeners Mark and Matt wants to know if everything on a screen is a video game. Jason ponders the idea that a PDF printout of a crossword puzzle could be a video game. John says that he is being silly and he should take these questions more seriously.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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Listener Matt has caught John in a trap, because once on ATP John referred to something as a robot that is not a robot. Does John use his own definitions in real life? Are podcasts real life? What is the meaning of this?!

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Show Notes & Links

ATP 643

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Unofficial Fan of “Robot or Not” Alexander wants to know what makes something official. Why are David Smith’s transcripts of The Talk Show “unofficial” if John Gruber links to them?

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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Listener Ed doesn’t keep his pizza wheel in his knife, but it’s got a blade and cuts things. What makes a knife a knife?

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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