Robots and special education: The robot as extension of self¹

Abstract

While robotics as a technology is modern, we can look to science fiction and mythology for inspirations for today's and tomorrow's products. Indeed, one of the earliest references to robots describes what is now at the frontier of modern technology-the golden maidens of Vulcan (Durant, 1939). These servants, according to myth, were built by Vulcan to assist him after he became crippled. With specialized robots finding ready use in industry, we are finding a rise in the attention received by the personal robot.