Are Cyborgs & Androids Real?

Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids

The episode uses a playful sci-fi movie-theater skit to distinguish cyborgs from androids and then grounds the discussion in real-world technology. It traces

Key takeaways

• A cyborg is defined as part human, part machine, while an android is a robot designed to look and act human.
• Darth Vader is identified as a cyborg, while Marvel's Vision is identified as an android.

Main topics

• Cyborgs vs. androids
• Prosthetics and bionics

Notable quotes

A cyborg is part human, part machine.

Conclusion

The episode gives a clear, kid-friendly explanation of cyborgs, androi

Transcript preview

Speaker 3 (0:00) And now it's time for Who Smarted? Psst! Hey there, smarty pants! You seem to have found me at my favorite movie theater watching a science fiction or sci-fi movie. Right now, two rebel fighters are attempting to escape an evil cyborg in their spaceship, the Aluminum Hawk. Speaker 4 (0:17) T-3PO, I need more power in the engines. That cyborg is hot on our tail. Speaker 2 (0:23) I'm working on it, sir. Unfortunately, the odds of surviving a cyborg attack is 324 million to 1. Speaker 4 (0:31) Don't ever tell me the odds! What are you doing down there? This cyborg is going to terminate both of us if we don't get out of here! I'm Speaker 3 (0:38) doing Speaker 2 (0:39) my best. Speaker 3 (0:40) I gotta say, smarty pants, this movie isn't very good. Speaker 2 (0:43) The cyborg has flown up in the main door. He's boarding the ship. Speaker 1 (0:49) I am a Determinator T-800, sent from the future, determined to make you go bye-bye. That includes you too, judgy narrator. Speaker 3 (0:57) Uh, was that cyborg just talking to me? Never mind. Smartypants, do you know what a cyborg is? Is it A, a robot designed to look human? B, part human, part machine? Speaker 2 (1:10) Or Speaker 3 (1:10) C, a mechanical monster? Speaker 2 (1:12) If I may offer some assistance, I can tell you it's certainly not A. For I am a robot designed to look human and I am an android. Uh, Speaker 3 (1:22) this is still a movie, right? Smarty Pants, the answer is B. A cyborg is part human, part machine. Now, Smarty Pants, true or false? Cyborgs exist only in sci-fi. Speaker 1 (1:34) Does this seem like just a movie to you? Speaker 3 (1:37) Whoa, what are you doing here in the movie theater? Speaker 1 (1:39) I'm here because the answer is false. Cyborgs actually exist in the real world. Speaker 3 (1:47) Yes, cyborgs actually exist. But you, you're from the movie. You belong up on the screen with the rebel pilot and the android. For Speaker 2 (1:55) the record, trusty narrator, androids exist too. Ah, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the movie too? You said it yourself. The movie isn't very good. This is far more interesting. Speaker 1 (2:07) I am a Determinator T-800, sent back from the future, determined to destroy you, android. Speaker 3 (2:14) Whoa, you missed the android and blew up my popcorn. Speaker 1 (2:17) I'll be back with more popcorn. Speaker 4 (2:20) Hey, Rebel Spaceship Pilot, any chance you can help a narrator out here? Sorry, kid. I've got my own skin to look out for. Later, narrator. Speaker 3 (2:33) Oh wow, he just left us Speaker 2 (2:35) here. Are you sad? I am programmed to detect 27 distinct human emotions. Speaker 1 (2:41) I am back with more popcorn. Speaker 1 (2:46) And destruction. Speaker 3 (2:47) Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on, both of you. You know, it's not often one finds himself in the company of both a cyborg and an android. I think this is an excellent opportunity to stop fighting and start learning. I see. What would you like to learn more about, Tien? Well, for one thing, will we be seeing more androids and cyborgs in the future? And how far along are we to adding machine parts and technology to human beings? Or making robots look and act like people? And is any of this dangerous? Speaker 1 (3:17) I'll be back with the answers. Looks Speaker 3 (3:20) like the future is here today, smarty pants. Get ready for a whiff of science, technology, and history on... The Smart Egg! Speaker 3 (3:31) I'm Speaker