Disney's depiction of modern technology

     In light of Disney's newest blockbuster Big Hero 6, I thought it proper to make a blog post about the movie's extravagant approach to depicting modern day technology as well as potential products of technology that have yet to be materialized. (and possibly the kawaii-ness that is Baymax)
     The highlight of this movie's utilization of actual technological discourses is a topic I have talked about quite often in these blog posts. Biomedical robotics are greatly applicable to contemporary society. Various studies have proven biomedical robots to be more proficient in performing simple tasks such as giving vaccinations and diagnoses. The margin of error that exists with a robot performing these tasks is much smaller than that of a human performing the tasks. so for overall accuracy the implementation of biomedical robots and assistants would be a beneficial policy to implement. Baymax, a white, balloon looking robot is a nursing bot, created to revolutionize the healthcare industry. Japan has shown variations of nursing bots like Baymax, one specifically in the shape of a bear that is implemented as a nurse for the elderly, an industry that needs more workers. Disney created Baymax with various considerations such as the material of his skeleton for mobility and weight, as well as his playful design to appeal to children. Though Baymax serves as more of a super hero sidekick than a nursing companion by the end of the movie, I do appreciate that Disney took it upon themselves to bring that branch of robotics to life for the younger generation.
     Disney really outdid themselves with this movie, pulling ideas for invention from many discourses within robotics. The algorithm that Baymax uses to move is actually very reminiscent of a programming lab I had to write in CS 115, called picobot, not to be confused with the pico-bots in this movie. The pico-bots, an invention the film is quite centered on, are quite unrealistic in their functionality. Disney did incorporate the idea of creating large structures from these tiny units that can be attached through magnetism, also playing with electromagnetism for a friction-less bike in a separate part of the movie, but they lose the techie audience when it is introduced that the bots can completely reform themselves into different colors and forms of matter as controlled through a neural sensor headband. The grandeur of these robots was exaggerated, but, in my opinion, not something that took away from the film. During a techshow that happens in the movie, Hiro, the main character and inventor of the picobots, talks about the practical capabilities of his invention, branching into construction, transportation, and many more issues that engineers entire careers are meant to solve. So while Disney's content was a little out there, I really do appreciate the exposure they put onto the tech community. Showing young children this grandiose image of science and invention is a method that will most definitely bring more interest to the field and serve as aspirations for future engineers and scientists.