Humans

Zombies, Robots, Automatons, and Androids. What do they all have in common and what makes them all so different. Well there are many things that separate them so let’s start with the opposites. First of all we’ll start with the definitions.

Zombies are defined as one of two things when talking about people. The first being “a corpse said to be revived by witchcraft, especially in certain African and Caribbean religions.” The image of this type of zombie is no the popular culture one everyone is used to. These types of zombies don’t crave human flesh, they are brought back to do one thing and that is to serve. They aren’t normally depicted with grotesque amounts of blood and guts, but rather more intact and human looking. The second definition of zombies is “a person or reanimated corpse that has been turned into a creature capable of movement but not of rational thought, which feeds on human flesh.” This is the modern zombie that we are all used to. The one that we see in horror or survival movies, dramas, and shows. They can range depending on the fictional universe from super fast to slow or somewhere in between. To a fast conversion to a slow one, from man made to mystery of nature.

Next is robots, which is something I think we are all familiar with. The first definition we are covering is “a machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically, especially one programmable by a computer.” This refers to the robot you are most likely used to seeing. The types that put cars together or work in factories with little to no human supervision. Only being checked up on when maintenance is required. The next definition comes from science fiction and popular culture which is “a machine resembling a human being and able to replicate certain human movements and functions automatically.” When thinking of this think of Wall-E. A robot that somewhat resembles humans with eyes and eyebrows, arms, a body, but not completely and Wall-E cannot perform all the same functions as a human. Or think of a Droid from star wars, the ones you see in the prequels. They resemble humans but can’t do all the things humans do.

Now we will discuss Automatons. Automatons are described as “a moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being” with the second being “a machine that performs a function according to a predetermined set of coded instructions, especially one capable of a range of programmed responses to different circumstances.” Now this and the first definition of robot have a lot in common. They both don’t have to resemble humans and perform tasks we want  them to. Yet when it comes to automatons not all robots are automatons but all automatons are robots to put it shortly. Meaning automatons are a subsection of robots.

Finally we have Android which can be described as “a robot with a human appearance.” Just like automatons, androids are a subsection of robots. They are the ones that are the most human like in appearance and can do most functions a human can do. For example in the alien movies there are androids that look near identical to humans, yet they can’t do everything thing a human can do to restrictions and depending on the model are a bit more stiff in their movements. Another good example would be the terminator.

But what do these all have in common? They all seem very different from one another in what their capable of and what they can do and zombies don’t even come close to the electric circuitry of the other three subjects discussed. Well all four of these can be related back to humans. They can be used to show how we can be less human, how we can work or do something without thinking. Doing what we are told and not making up our own minds. As all of these things work without any critical thought or self awareness. This is what they all have in common, fitting that they all relate to us as they all came from our thoughts and ideas.