As man’s technological prowess grows evermore impressive, his already-glutted opinion of himself equally grows. We ought to pat ourselves on the back; we have made creations that not only have the physical capability of walking, but can actually “learn” to do so. And they can do it within the first 20 minutes of their “lifetime”. That sure beats the human record.

As usual, my post is based on a recent technology news article: Robo-Toddler Learns to Walk Like a Human.

This is quite an impressive feat, especially considering the fact that this creation is learning how to walk, which undoubtedly is what helps it further develop by walking on differing terrain, walking backward, and even adjusting when it trips. When compared with existing technology, this latest innovation is quite a wonderful leap in application of science.

However, I found it nearly comical how the article compared the robot’s gait with that of a human. Despite acknowledgment that “the walking robot looks more like a moving Erector set than a human being”, there were a few times that the robot’s behavior or movement was compared to that of a human being. Really, though, couldn’t one say that its gait is just as similar to that of a monkey? And to be brutally honest, this expensive chrome creature’s maneuverability is likely found lacking next to the most simple-minded living animal.

Whereas such comparisons may even be angering to some–as it could be suggested that they miss the point of this breakthrough–they certainly are not intended to evoke such a reaction. They just help us appreciate that we have a long way to go as creators, even if we are such only in a biomimetic sense. In this changed perspective, the phrase “like a human” suddenly becomes almost laughable.