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Science Museum In London Features 500 Year Old Robots And Raise Questions On Future Of Employment

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When thinking of robots, people now-a-days would think of android-like machines running around and doing manual labor. Today, that thought is possible but how did robots evolve since then? The Science Museum in London features the first robot to the futuristic and fictional ones.

For nine months, starting Feb. 8 until Sept. 3, the Science Museum exhibit in New London takes visitors through the years. The beginnings of robotics started with a 16th century monk and ends with the fictional movie character - the Terminator.

People in the past have always envisioned life like machines and the term robot was only made popular in the 1920s. Back then the term is used to define soulless workers. Now, the word "robots" is taken on a much more positive note, as reported by The Christian Science Monitor.

Robots have now been around for five hundred years. Ben Russel, the lead curator from the Science Museum in London, says that robots are fascinating things and so is their evolution. Over the last half century, inventors have made a 16th century clockwork monk for the king of Spain. There is also a robot that sings and takes selfies with guests. Even the T-800 robot from "Terminator Salvation" gets a spot in the exhibit.

Aside from taking a look at the history of robots, a critic from The Telegraph poses questions about the use of robots when it comes to society's needs. Mark Hudson writes that if robots are going to take people's jobs, should companies pay income tax on their behalf?

The robot exhibit at the Science Museum does not only bring guests to the past but also to the possible future of employment and automation. The question on robots replacing human workers is slowly becoming real for today's generation.

However, Russel believes that the New London exhibit will force people to think about how robots can enhance their lives.

Watch the CNN clip below for a preview of the Science Museum Robots exhibit:

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