| 1934 |
J. Storer Clouston: Button Brains (novel): mistaken identity (robot/human) |
| 1934 |
Harl Vincent: 'Rex' (story): robot Rex takes over the world but commits suicide |
| 1936 |
Modern Times (film): Charlie Chaplin trying to adapt to the discipline of the machine |
| 1937 |
John W. Campbell became editor of Astounding (Stories of) Science Fiction, or ASF (US science fiction magazine) |
| 1939 |
The Son of Frankenstein (film) |
| 1940 |
Isaac Asimov: 'Robbie' (story): amiable robot saves child's life |
| 1941 |
Isaac Asimov: 'Reason' (story): robot becomes curious about own existence |
| 1942 |
First appearance of Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics:
- A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human
being to come to harm.
- A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such
orders would conflict with the First Law.
- A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not
conflict with the First or Second Law.
|
| 1943 |
Robert Bloch: 'It Happened Tomorrow' (story): over-dependence on technology |
| 1944 |
Theodore Sturgeon: 'Killdozer' (story): parable about machines acting independently of human control |
| 1946 |
[FIRST ELECTRONIC COMPUTER: ENIAC]
Isaac Asimov: 'Evidence' (story): robot simulates human
Murray Leinster (as Will F. Jenkins): 'A Logic Named Joe' (story): over-dependence on technology |
| 1947 |
Isaac Asimov: 'Little Lost Robot' (story): robot lacks humour
Jack Williamson: 'With Folded Hands' (story): robots prepared to use lobotomies to 'protect' human beings |
| 1949 |
George Orwell: Nineteen Eighty-Four (novel): dystopia in which technology is used repressively |
