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Robot, 1928 - A Mechanical Man who may do work of tomorrow
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Robot, 1928 - A Mechanical Man who may do work of tomorrow
Mr. R. J. Wensley of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company operating a mechanical man or robot who, in response to spoken signals and notes blown on a pitch pipe, unveiled a portrait of George Washington. The Graphic comments the machine, suggests that one day the work of the world may be carried on by automatons who will never think of striking and goes on to cast doubt on their usefulness in the light of recent mechanised industrialisation leading to unemployment in America. The robot was named Herbert Televox, the first of several robots based on patents taken out by Wensley and created at Westinghouse.
1928
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Media ID 23068034
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Commands Demonstration Development Herbert Mechanical Operating Robot Robots Technology Westinghouse 1928 Robotics Wensley
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this photograph from 1928, Mr. R.J. Wensley of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company proudly operates a mechanical man or robot named Herbert Televox. During a demonstration, Herbert responds to spoken signals and notes blown on a pitch pipe, unveiling a portrait of George Washington. The Graphic, a leading British weekly newspaper, marveled at the machine's capabilities, suggesting that one day, the work of the world may be carried out by automatons who will never think of striking. However, the newspaper also cast doubt on the usefulness of such inventions in the light of recent mechanized industrialization and the resulting unemployment in America. Herbert Televox was the first of several robots based on patents taken out by Wensley and created at Westinghouse. This mechanical man, a precursor to modern robotics, showcases the remarkable progress of technology during the early 20th century. Despite the excitement surrounding this development, the societal implications of automation and its impact on labor were already being debated. As the world continued to evolve, the role of robots in our society would become a topic of ongoing fascination and controversy.
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