We Are The Robots

Some people argue that predictions of robot supremacy are just silly, and that even bothering to refute this is a waste of time. They say these are just little more than entertaining sci-fi stories which happen to have caught the attention of the media.

Popular predictions of robots taking over like in some 50s b-movie have two assumptions in common:

The first is that the ever-increasing power in computer processing will automatically mean an increase in the intelligence of the machine using these computers for brains.

The second is that super-intelligent machines will automatically want to take over the world.

Time will tell... as long as it's not on a digital clock!

In the meantime, in Japan, home to roughly 40 percent of the world's industrial robots, they truly believe in the useful deployment of robots to help people cope with their day-to-day chores.

There is the hope that robots, like the vacuuming machine developed by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, will be the answer to a declining Japanese labor force and an ageing population.

The machine is already cleaning floors at night in about 10 buildings around the country, including a 54-floor skyscraper in central Tokyo.

Already reaserchers from seven leading firms are working with a group headed by The University of Tokyo's Isao Shimoyama, to develop new robots capable of performing mundane tasks - prototypes will be unveiled in 18 months.

Shimoyama says concerns about these robots taking over is very far fetched: "I don't think they will ever be as smart as humans.".

More than anything, developers are making sure these machines will be safe and sensitive to people's needs, something Fujitsu Frontech Ltd and Fujitsu Laboratories have already included in their Enon, which has a humanoid upper body equipped with a touch screen on its chest to detect a newcomer.

This robot is now in use at four locations in Japan, including a shopping mall.

With a nod it greets people with: "Are you a visitor? Hello.", while those requiring directions can point to icons displayed on Enon's chest screen which will display a map that shows the way...

The future will be sponsored by McColaSoft.

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