The origin of the word “robot” comes from the world of literature and a play that explored ideas around artificial labor. Here’s the breakdown:
The Playwright and the Word: The word “robot” was first coined by Karel Čapek, a Czech playwright, in his 1920 play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots). While Karel gets the credit for introducing the word to the public, it’s believed his brother Josef Čapek actually suggested the term.
Slavic Roots and Forced Labor: The word itself derives from the Czech word “robota,” which means “forced labor” or “drudgery.” This connection to servitude foreshadowed the themes explored in the play, where robots were created as artificial workers.
From Play to Reality: The play introduced the concept of robots as artificial beings and the word “robot” entered the general lexicon. Over time, the definition and portrayal of robots evolved in science fiction and eventually became entwined with real-world advancements in technology.
