NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/dailystar/58383.php
They've been saying robots for the masses are ten years away for forever. I mean, some of their prophecies are reasonable, but the robot thing? C'mon!

Household robots are possible in the timeframe given. Robot vacuum cleaners (http://www.hammacher.com/publish/71579.asp?sourceid=0039837023&AFID=BEFREE01) and floor washers (http://www.robotsandrelax.com/Orazio.html) are available now. But the prices will have to come way down, as the run $1,200-1,800 now. I'd say we're more likely to have a small fleet of robot appliances. I'd say one in every household will be more likely to be in the 2015-2025 range.

Household robots are possible in the timeframe given. Robot vacuum cleaners (http://www.hammacher.com/publish/71579.asp?sourceid=0039837023&AFID=BEFREE01) and floor washers (http://www.robotsandrelax.com/Orazio.html) are available now. But the prices will have to come way down, as the run $1,200-1,800 now. I'd say we're more likely to have a small fleet of robot appliances. I'd say one in every household will be more likely to be in the 2015-2025 range.
That is understandable. But I don't think that a robot that will pick up my laundary is likely anytime soon. But I can see the cause for optimism in Japan, as the Japanese have the most robots anywhere on the planet.

But I don't think that a robot that will pick up my laundary is likely anytime soon.

I think this is the problem. Most people think of Rosie the Robot from the Jetsons (or some other similar image). In fact the household cleaning bots are more likely going to be essentially independent versions of today's appliances, like the ones linked above.

Bring on the robots! Elimination of love and sex, and world domination, all wrapped into one, beautiful package!

Bring on the robots! Elimination of love and sex, and world domination, all wrapped into one, beautiful package!
Err, what?
That sounds like a bit too big of a task for a household cleaning robot...
;)

I think there will be humaniform robots, but amongst those first would be models designed with sexual surrogation in mind. In some markets, such surrogates might be more commonplace than household robots.

I think this is the problem. Most people think of Rosie the Robot from the Jetsons (or some other similar image). In fact the household cleaning bots are more likely going to be essentially independent versions of today's appliances, like the ones linked above.
I think that stationary appliances work just fine.

I think that stationary appliances work just fine.

A stationary vacuum cleaner's not going to do much good... ;)
Robot appliances won't be motile unless they need to be. Vaccums, floor cleaners, lawn mowers, and so on will be motile, but your robot washing machine won't need to be.
A clothing collector, for example, would be cool. Just drop your clothes anywhere and a small roaming bot collects them, sorts them, and deposits them in the washer. The robot washer then washes the clothes automatically.

Take the vacuum above, make a few changes (namely size and power) and you have the collector bot. Smart washing machines (http://www.i4u.com/article2134.html) are already available. Make it autonomous, and voila another robot appliance. RFID tags are becoming more common, and will make all this work smoother.

Forbes has a good article about why we aren't seeing more smart appliances:
'Smart' Kitchens A Long Way Off (http://www.forbes.com/2001/12/21/1221networking.html). The bottom line is that they're just too expensive. The same applies to the robot appliannces available now, and will continue to affect how widely used they are. The prices will come down.

I know they have some robots that are vacuums or lawnmowers, but I think that they will be the only robots in the house. There won't be a robotic butler or anything of the sort.

I know they have some robots that are vacuums or lawnmowers, but I think that they will be the only robots in the house.

There will eventually be others. Smart appliances will evolve into autonomous robots. Not everyone will have one, but then again, not everyone has dumb appliances now. But they'll eventually be as common as dumb appliances are today.

There won't be a robotic butler or anything of the sort.

Which is exactly what I said. ;)
(Although, I have seen plans for one. I just don't think it'll go over. Too intrusive.)