'Last Moments Robot' Comforts You To Death [View all]

[n2doc]

Man. Man oh man oh man. This is a video of Dan Chen's 'Last Moments Robot', a robot designed to comfort a person as their final bars of life-force flow out of them. You know, because that's not the saddest thing I've ever heard. WARNING: crippling depression follows.

Once the patient lies down and the device is activated, LEDs display the words "Detecting end of life." At this point, the "doctor" exits the room, leaving the patient alone. Within moments, the LEDs read "End of life detected," and the robotic arm begins its back-and-forth caressing action...

"The device is meant to raise questions," he says. "The process of dying is probably the most vulnerable moment of a human life, where one seeks the assurance of human connection. In this installation, human presence is replaced with a robot, questioning the quality of intimacy without humanity."

"I am the Last Moment Robot. I am here to help you and guide you through your last moment on Earth. I am sorry that your family and friends can't be with you right now, but don't be afraid. I am here to comfort you. You are not alone, you are with me. Your family and friends love you very much, they will remember you after you are gone."

Holy shit, I need cheering up and I need it now. Anybody -- tell me something happy. "It's Friday." That helped, keep going. "Happy hour at 5." Go on, I'm listening. "Dying with nothing but a robot by your side." WOW -- you're a real @$$hole, you know that?

http://www.geekologie.com/2012/06/depressing-with-a-capital-d-last-moments.php