Wow, I think this needs to be discussed.

Damn, this thing is so cool. Like so much friggin technical Shizwaz into a 5 foot thing. This thing is so cool!

2014, no big deal, we just have security robots, military drones, and the ability to fix eyes with lazers.

This is crazy, I couldn't help but notice that when he was presenting the interface that a guy walked in front of the Knightscope and it looked at him and then just went around.
I have to admit that it's likely to decrease criminal activity, at first at least, since it's unknown which makes most humans really uncomfortable.

I don't have any sort of extreme stance about it, but it seems counter productive to produce badass "security" robots, to play into our society's desperate obsession with the illusion of safety. I'd much rather live in a world where badass security robots didn't have to be a reality.

Quote from Jutsu

I'd much rather live in a world where badass security robots didn't have to be a reality.

Me too bud.. me too, but it seems the chances of that happening are well not looking too great.

This reminds me of Psycho-Pass.

But yes, this looks awesome. This is just the first in the line, soon we'll have more powerful ones, the idea is just too cool :D

I like how it didn't show the display of hands when the guy asked how many members of the audience found the idea of the robot uncomfortable or privacy-invading.

"So you're saying if, at the Boston marathon, one of these was on every corner, it would be recording everybody, all the video from four different directions?"

My goodness. How futuristic. It's not like this technology existed in 1942 or anything.

It seems like a much less efficient version of CCTV. It has some nice software in it but it's nothing that couldn't be housed back at the police station, and with much less risk of someone breaking the presumably-very-expensive piece of equipment (I don't know if they mentioned price - I only watched the first six minutes). Why make a big thing of it being able to move around on its own and get itself to a recharging point when neither of those things is necessary for a decent security system?

Yes it has radiation detectors and stuff, but there's no reason they can't be added to the existing network. And I think there are a few cities in the US which have a system that records loud sounds to let them know any time a gun is fired.

Will this kind of thing bring forth new laws surrounding the machine and consequently increase the amount of a different set of crime? It seems like something that will get in the way, especially in high density areas, and therefore can be easily damaged.

From the video the guy said it will cost around $30,000 per year. If you are planning to replace a security guard then this is a steal, but is this really at a level where it can replace a security guard. It records crime, it doesn't solve or diffuse problems. Not to mention this is excluding the price of maintenance.

But like all things, we have to wait and see the pros and cons. Hey I was opposed to automated check outs at one point in time, and now I'd rather it. Looking at the bright side of things, it may be a useful escort machine in dark and shady areas. And considering it is involved in dealing with minor crimes, it may allow police to be redistributed to more serious crimes. But then again, it also looks like something that can be easily stolen considering that some people have the balls to steal ATM machines. And the moment they introduce self defense weapons to it, then that is when we a reaching a stage of concern.

And I sure hope this doesn't open the door to robotic stalking.