14. Robot Baths

Flash Forward

Flash Forward Presents

Science

4.8 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 31 October 2022

⏱️ 5 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

If you want to explain the hack to him, go to episode 26: Break the News. If you want to keep the news from him, go to episode 27: Keep Quiet. Vanguard Estates is a production of Flash Forward. The story was written by me, Rose Eveleth; edited by Ace Tilton Radcliffe and Georgia Wyatt; and produced by Ozzy Llinas Goodman. The sound design is by Mischa Stanton and music is by Ilan Blanck. The voice actors for Welcome to Vanguard Estates are: Marcus Jones -- Keith Houston Imani Jones -- Shara Kirby Robot #1 -- Ashley Kellem Amy -- Chelsey B Coombs Vanguard Estates Representative -- Aiya Islam Missy -- Anjali Kunapaneni Robot # 2 -- Brett Tubbs NPR Host -- Sandhya Dirks An earlier version of Vanguard Estates was originally performed live for Pop-Up Magazine. You can also play through a web version of the story at flashforwardpod.com/vanguard, which features really cool illustrations by Mattie Lubchansky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	The bath bots don't even really look like robots to you.
0:06.8	They're more like turning your bathroom into a car wash for people.
0:11.5	Two giant arms installed into the walls equipped with cameras and sensors.
0:18.0	You and your sister both sign the various privacy waivers involved.
0:23.2	Your eyes glaze over reading the terms and conditions.
0:26.3	You get collected and stored in a profile and something, something, something,
0:30.3	anonymized, something.
0:32.9	You accept.
0:33.9	Nobody ever reads the terms and conditions, do they?
0:37.6	Maybe Imani does.
0:40.9	You take turns with her explaining the bots to your dad over the phone.
0:44.8	He shouldn't be alarmed.
0:45.8	They're very safe.
0:47.3	Plus, wouldn't it be weird to have a stranger giving you a bath?
0:51.6	Robots are less awkward.
0:53.6	He's skeptical at first, but eventually he comes around.
0:57.5	Apparently, the robot has learned the exact order in which he likes to wash, which
1:02.9	delights him.
1:04.7	For months, things are good.
1:07.1	The various notifications Vanguard sends you each day fade into a pleasant lull.
1:12.9	They remind you he's still around, still playing poker as badly as ever, still arguing
1:18.2	with the robots about something or another.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Flash Forward Presents, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Flash Forward Presents and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.