Degrees of Freedom Update 6: Cover Reveal

Presenting the Cover of Degrees of Freedom

The cover of Degrees of Freedom features an image from Dederick & Grass’ original 1868 patent for their Steam Man. This patent played a key role in the history of robotics, not simply because it was possibly the first robotics patent in the US, but more importantly because it directly inspired The Steam Man of the Prairies — the science fiction novel that first depicted robots in literature, and shaped how we think about robots today.

The cover does a great job of reflecting the message of Degrees of Freedom:

• The use of the Steam Man reflects the book’s focus on the ways that race and gender have been baked into robotics from its inception.

• The depiction of the Steam Man as emerging from the left side of the cover and moving toward the right reflects the book’s focus on the evolution of robotics — and how we can equitably steer the field as it moves into the future.

• The horizontal flipping of the patent image reflects the book’s call to subvert the status quo.

• The bright orange of the cover reflects the warnings raised by the book regarding the ethical risks of robotics, and the book’s urgent call to action.

How did the cover come about?

Due to the role it plays in the book, I suggested the use of Dederick & Grass’ patent image for use on Degrees of Freedom’s cover. But the specific way the image is positioned (flipped to face to the right, emerging from left-to-right) is based on suggestions made by a book-cover-artist friend of mine, Lauren Peters-Collaer (she also suggested the specific colors!). The cover was then created by MIT Press’ art team by combining these suggestions with their new house typography and cover style.

I can’t wait to see these in person!