The Secret Service and other law enforcement branches have long used dogs, which have been said to be the only weapon that cannot be turned on the holder. Of course, the dog – as a weapon – occasionally also has the added benefit of being the most level-headed and deepest thinker in a criminal investigation. That’s not a knock on cops, dogs help diagnose skin cancers and can detect seizures coming on, in many situations they’re the calmest doctor in the house, too. As long as it isn’t the Fourth of July.
So it is obvious why canine law enforcement might be seen as a huge bonus with respect to social distancing. But it took Singapore to take the idea from using a real “man’s best friend” to a very creepy dog-like robot.
Did I mention creepy?
A good way to get people to take social distancing seriously is to send a horrifying robot dog to yell at them. At least, that’s the thinking in Singapore, where a four-legged robot innocuously named “Spot” is patrolling the grounds of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park to remind people to keep six feet apart, The Straits Times reports [1].
For now, the pilot program only involves broadcasting a recorded message about proper protocol in public spaces during the pandemic, although the robot is also fitted with cameras that will also help authorities keep track of potential crowding (the cameras are apparently not collecting personal data, nor will they be able to recognize or track people). If the trial is successful, more robocops will be rolled out to enforce social distancing measures in public spaces.
The robot may be familiar to Americans who enjoy watching dystopic YouTube videos, given that Spot was developed by Boston Dynamics, which often publishes viral footage of its inventions going for jogs [2] or slipping on banana peels [3] or resisting their puny human overlord [4]
A pandemic, robotic dogs yelling at you to follow the law, Donald Trump as president, and a world depression? Sounds pretty f-ing dystopian to me!
Why don’t they just use real dogs to bark with a recorded message?
****
Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom