R. U. R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)

We have Czech writer Karel Čapek to thank for the invention of the word robot and generally for the introduction of the idea of artificial intelligence to the world of literature. His play, "R. U. R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)" was written in 1920 and was first performed in 1921. The play was an instant success and was translated into over 30 languages within two years of its first performance. The play begins in a factory that makes the "robots", which could be more accurately described a...