826LA Good Times

Daniel H. Wilson

Daniel H. Wilson, the author of How to Survive a Robot Uprising and How to Build a Robot Army, took some time to answer the many questions the Good Times journalists had about robots.

In what year will robots be able to talk and look like humans?
That’s a tough one to predict. Robots that look just like people are called “androids.” There are androids right now that can imitate human beings very closely, but it’s almost impossible to get everything right. In fact, scientists have discovered that robots who look almost but not quite human fall into something called “The Uncanny Valley.” It turns out, people are very good at spotting little details about each other. So, if there is a robot that looks perfectly human-like, except it doesn’t breathe, or it doesn’t blink often enough, or its skin temperature is a little bit cool— well, then humans will notice and get really, really freaked out. Because of the Uncanny Valley, some scientists argue that we shouldn’t even try to make androids. With that kind of a challenge, it will be a long time before androids are indistinguishable from human beings.

Why don’t we have robots do chores?
Machines already do our chores! Dishwashers and washing machines and dryers speed up a lot of household chores. But the main reason that we don’t have servant robots that can take out the trash and clean our rooms and walk the dog is that the environments we live in, our houses, are really complicated! There’s stuff everywhere that makes doing the chores really difficult. For example, the Roomba robot can vacuum your room, but only if you make sure there are no shoelaces for it to run over and get choked on. It can vacuum, but it can’t spot shoelaces and avoid them. This is why there are lots of machines that depend on us to make the problem simpler. This is called creating a structured environment.

When will we have robots that can cook?
Just like doing chores, cooking is a complicated task. The robot has to have arms and hands so that it can grip knives, pick up pots and pans, and turn knobs on the stove. Then, the robot has to have eyes so that it can see where things are at. The robot has to be very smart so that it can identify objects like carrots and spoons, figure out how to pick them up, and be sure of where they’re at. These three steps are sensing (with cameras), thinking (with a computer), and then acting (by using hands). Sense-think-act. Oh, and maybe the hardest problem—because it might be very strong, the robot has to be careful not to accidentally knock anybody out of a window!

When will we have robots that can do our homework?
Do you really want a robot to do your homework? People (kids and adults, too!) have to do homework in order to learn new things. We have to study and solve problems in order to make ourselves smarter and to cram information into our brains. Unlike us, robots can just scan new information and store it in a database. If a robot has information in a database, it doesn’t help you become smarter. Instead, scientists are working on robotic “helpers” that can make people smarter. For example, a prototype device called prosthetic memory works by recording everything that happens to you during the day, and then helping to memorize the names of people, when and where things happened, and all kinds of other stuff so that you can remember it later!

Why do we make robots?
Usually, we build robots to do jobs that are dull, dirty or dangerous. First, jobs that are dull make human beings bored, and then we get so bored that we mess up the job. That’s why robots work in factories to do repetitive tasks putting together toasters. Second, it’s hard to get people to do jobs that are dirty because nobody wants to go to filthy places. That’s why sewer-cleaning robots are in demand! And third, jobs that are dangerous could hurt or kill people, and so we need to send in tough robots that could end up damaged or destroyed. That’s why when we need to clean up toxic waste or get rid of land mines, robots are the ones to call.

How long can robots live?
With proper maintenance, a robot could live forever. As each piece wears out, you just replace it with a new piece. That’s one advantage that robots have over human beings.

What does a robot run on?
Most robots run on electrical power that is stored in a battery. However, many military robots run on engines just like in a motorcycle or even a car. Those robots can’t go inside a house because of all the exhaust. Creating new power sources is a big area of study. There is one prototype robot that even runs on biological matter—it gets its power from eating living organisms! Better keep an eye on that one…

Alex likes the football field at John Marshall High School.

Q & A with Andy Moran, Varsity Football Coach

By Alex

I predicted that I would go to John Marshall High School and would join the football team. The reason why I think John Marshall High School football rocks is because I like their football field, which is big. I talked to Andy Moran, the coach of the varsity football team. I asked him some questions about what to do to get into the football team.

1. What do you need to do to get into the football team?
The first thing you need is to have and maintain a 2.0 grade point average. This is the minimum grade requirement; we want players that strive for higher grades than that.

2. How do you make the team win the championship?
Winning a championship requires more than anything I do. It takes dedication from every member of the team, and it requires everyone to work together for a common goal.

3. Who started the football team?
I don’t know who started the team at Marshall. Football has been a part of the school since it opened in 1931.

4. How and why did you become a coach?
I became a coach by going to college and volunteering my time as an assistant coach once I graduated. I became a coach because I really enjoyed football, and coaches always played a big part in my life, and I wanted to be like them.

5. Did you ever play football?
I did play football. I played in high school and college. I even got to tryout for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

6. How good do my grades have to be to be on the team?
Grades are important. You must have a 2.0 or C average, but the best teams I’ve had always have had great grades as a team.

Not everyone was happy about the New Orleans Saints’ victory in the Super Bowl. Alex writes:

I felt sad because I go for the Colts, and the team lost. I really wanted to break my TV because I was really depressed and angry.

Photo: The Times-Picayune

The greatest game for the Who Dat nation happened Feb. 7 at Miami, Fla. It was four-time MVP Peyton Manning’s team, the Indianapolis Colts, vs. the New Orleans Saints. First quarter, Colts winning 0-3, then it’s 0-10. It’s then 3-10.

Second quarter, Saints down 6-10. Then it becomes 16-10, Saints in the lead. Then in the third quarter, 16-17, Colts back in the lead. Next, Drew Brees, Saints quarterback and Super Bowl 44 MVP, gives the ball to his teammate and TOUCHDOWN!!! 22-17. The Saints go for a two-point conversion. Drew Brees throws it to number 16, and it’s NOT IN?! What? It’s so in! Wait, Sean Payton challenges, and the referee goes to the instant replay in HD! He comes out of the booth and… it’s in! 24-17 in the fourth, and the Saints are in the lead by one touchdown. Now it’s Peyton Manning’s turn. He has to make a touchdown pass. He throws! Wait, where’s it going? Oh my goodness, right into the Saints’ arms! He’s running and TOUCHDOWN! Uh huh, oh yeah. The Saints are in the lead. Oh yeah, 31-17. Drew Brees is going crazy.

It’s the final minute. Saints are in the lead. Peyton throws it and oh, it’s the third down. He throws it there near the touchdown line and it’s incomplete, fourth down. Saints huddle, they’re asking, “Is it done? Is it over? Did we win?” The clock is about to end: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BUZZ. The New Orleans Saints have done it. They won against four-time MVP Peyton Manning. New Orleans, your team just won their first Super Bowl. This is your chance to forget the damage Hurricane Katrina did and PARTY like a ROCKSTAR. WHO DAT!!

The Good Times journalists predict robots will play a bigger role in the future.

For the seventh issue of Good Times, the 826LA journalists took a look at the future and the past. What’s in store for the future? Robots, perhaps. Here’s a sneak preview of the articles they are working on. The newest Good Times issue will be available soon at the Echo Park Time Travel Mart as well as Stories, Two Boots and Origami Vinyl.

I will ask questions to a scientist who studied about the Mayans. – Miguel

I am writing ideas for the future. Water machines maybe! – Nicki

What does a robot expert think about robots? – Josephine

I’m predicting the Super Bowl. – Jason

James Cameron must be filthy rich after Avatar. – Marsden

How scared I was when I got my ears pierced. – Lena

Pack, pack, pack for a fun trip. – Monica

You won’t have to pay to read it. – Oscar

I’m finding out why John Marshall High School is the best. – Alex

Ladies and gentlemen, we may be able to talk to our pets in 10 years. – Ruby

Would you like to have your own flying car? You may be able to in 15 years. – Alanis

I’m an NFL fan, and the biggest day is going to happen this Sunday. The Super Bowl is about to happen, so I asked ABC 7 Sports Anchor Rob Fukuzaki about the Saints and the Colts. Let’s see what he says.

1. Rob, do you think the Saints will win the Super Bowl?
Hi Jason. Glad to help you out with your article. Personally, it is refreshing to see the Saints make the Super Bowl for the first time in their 43-year history. They have for the most part been the laughingstock of the NFL, at times referred to as the “Aints” while their fans often would wear paper bags over their heads during games because the team was so embarrassing to watch. But now that they have overcome their painful past, I believe they have a good shot at winning. The odds are against them because they face Peyton Manning and his incredible offense. But the Saints have an explosive offense themselves, so if their defense can contain the Colts from putting too many points on the board early, the Saints have a good shot at pulling this off. At least if they keep it close until the fourth quarter, they will give themselves a chance.

2. How do you think (Saints quarterback) Drew Brees will do?
I do believe Drew Brees will have a good game. He wasn’t himself in the NFC championship game against the Vikings where he was 17 of 31 for just 197 yards, but did throw three touchdowns. Those numbers don’t seem that bad – but for Brees who has been so efficient and explosive this season, it was a down game for him. But the main thing is he got through it and is still playing. If he can return to his form of the regular season where he put up incredible numbers – 34 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions and 4,388 yards – he will shine on super Sunday. He has so many weapons on offense that he should be able to sprinkle out a balanced attack that could keep the Colts guessing on defense.

3. How do you think (Colts quarterback) Peyton Manning will do?
Whenever you talk about a four-time league MVP in Peyton Manning and the best quarterback of our era, you can only expect that he will have a big game as he seeks his second Super Bowl title. He was second in the league during the regular season in passing yards with 4,500, and threw one less touchdown than Brees – 33 – but did throw five more interceptions, with 16. It always comes down to the offensive line, which has always been one of the best in the NFL. If they can protect Manning and give him the time he needs, he will have his way and will pick apart the Saints secondary. He was sacked only 10 times all season, which is hard to comprehend, so if he has the protection, he’ll be the Super Bowl MVP.

4. What do you think the score will be?
I am a little partial to the great story of the Saints making it for the first time ever and doing so just a few years after the city was devastated by Katrina. They are the sentimental pick because of their past and the city’s rebuilding. In my mind, if they can keep it close, they have a shot to win. I think they will keep it close, but in the end, the Colts will win 34-31. If that score comes to fruition, make sure you tell all your friends where you heard it! But really, if that is the score, it’s going to be one exciting Super Bowl! Good luck to you ! Enjoy the game and best to you in your future.

- Jason Lee

826LA Good Times ace reporter Josephine skated the extra mile to learn more about the super intense world of roller derby. At an all-ages bout she served as a junior referee. Here’s the proof!

Josephine took the derby name Squashbob Squarepants for her day as a referee

Control Freak! by Marsden Oliver Lyonwahl and Nickie Yang

Nickie and I love the computer games “Age of Empires” series and “Age of Mythology.” We wanted to find out how the heck these are made. We decided to e-mail Ensemble Studios, creators of both games and many more. But to our horror we found out that they had closed down! But we found out that they had split into two new companies. We e-mailed Robot Entertainment with some questions and we got some awswers from Duncan Stanley, their Community Manager. These are the Q and A.

Q. What games have you developed? Which is your most popular game?

A. Robot Entertainment is a start up video game company, so we haven’t released any of our games yet, although our employees (or ‘Bots as we call them) have all been involved with many games over the years. Most of us were together at Ensemble Studios, now closed, that developed the Age of Empires series of games and Halo Wars. Age of Empires II: Age of Kings was Ensemble’s most popular game.

Q. Are you currently developing any games?

A. We are currently working on an unannounced game, but unfortunately we can’t talk about it yet (even to students!).

Q. Are you working on any Halloween based games?

A. We are not working on any Halloween based games, although the Halloween spirit is alive and well here at Robot!

Q. How many game testers work at Robot? What kind of skills do you need to be a game tester?

A. Currently we only have 1 person who does any testing, but when it comes to the final phases of making a game, we can have as much as 10 or more on-site testers, but everybody helps test out the game while they’re working on it too! To be a great game tester, you need to read and write very well so you can follow complex instructions, and write down what you’ve done in case you run into a bug. It also helps to be very good at problem solving and if you are very creative, so you can think of situations the programmers and designers haven’t thought of to test out.

Q. Where do you get your ideas for new games?

A. Everyone always has lots of great ideas for a new game, and we have a process where people can pitch new ideas to everyone, and a select team of people add their own and go through all of the ideas and come up with a overall plan for a new game. Then it goes to our team of designers who work on all of the specifics of the game, like levels, characters, and graphics vision and everything else. Then it’s up to the Artists and Programmers to get it all done!

Q. How long does it take to make a video game?

A. Most of the big name titles that are very popular take anywhere from 2 to 5 years from start to finish. The latest game that Robot Entertainment provides support for is Halo Wars, and that took about 3 years of development.

There’s a sports monument right outside of 826LA. In fact, it’s right on Sunset Boulevard. Echo Park’s Walk of Fame honors local sports figures, and the Good Times journalists took a stroll down the Walk and then found out more about the people being honored.

Roy Campanella by Alanis

Roy Campanella (a.k.a. “Campy”) was a human who was the catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the ’40s and ’50s. He is on the Echo Park Walk of Fame because he was a good player and played in the Negro Leagues and the Mexican Leagues before playing in the Major Leagues with Jackie Robinson. He was also in the Major League Hall of Fame and won three MVPs. He only played for the Brooklyn Dodgers because he had an automobile accident before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. We walked to Sunset Blvd., and when I heard his name, I thought about the movie The Sandlot: Heading Home.

Echo Park Plaques by Josephine

We went outside. We had some paper and crayons, and we colored some plaques in front of 826LA. One of them was for a golfer (Ralph Guldahl), one was for a runner (Jesse Owens) and one was for a baseball player (Roy Campanella). I’d never heard of Ralph Guldahl before. He played golf. He lived in Los Angeles. He’s on the Echo Park Walk of Fame because he was really good at playing golf. He won in Santa Monica in 1931. He was born in Dallas, Texas.

The plaques are called Avenue of the Athletes. That should be the name of the street. L. Andrew Castle put the plaques on Avenue of the Athletes so people would come to the shops in Echo Park. He had a camera shop. Avenue of the Athletes is on Sunset between Elysian Park Blvd. and Alvarado St. The plaques were made in 1974. There are 32 plaques on Avenue of the Athletes.