Rise of the handy machines: UK gears up for first Robotics Week

No imagination!

All that guff about surgical robots, and outdoor and hazardous environments - we've got doctors for that, and the SAS. Why would they want robots? I can't see the special forces having much prestige if it's just driving a mechwarrior from an office in Hereford, with privation counting as not having a mug of coffee next to your mouse pad.

Oi! UK-RAS! Where's my robot home assistant, able to strip the beds, wash it, dry it, iron it, air it and put clean sheets back on the bed? And hoover the house, empty the bins, clear the kids junk away? Bringing me a cup of tea in the morning to wake me up. Cleaning shoes. Feeding the fleet of cats or walking dogs and carrying the regulation sandwich bag. Basic cooking stuff (I'll do the ambitious and fun stuff). And the robotic blighter can also do lawnmowing, leaf sweeping, car cleaning, toilet de-skidding, window cleaning. And rather than making cars intelligent but useless for all other purposes, my non-Terminator would be a capable chauffeur. Now, Dame Dowling, that would transform the quality of our lives, and be a poke in the eye for all the twerps who think that putting the intelligence into a car is a good idea.

And talking of jobs I'd rather not do, they could add bottom-wiping to the list of desired functionality.

I notice that "Universities and Science minister Jo Johnson" doesn't know what engineers do.

Something to look forward to.

Cloggs

Historically, automation has improved and even saved lives. It has made lives easier, more efficient, more enjoyable and extended our lifespans.

And yet every time there is another step forward there are screams and gnashing of teeth, people proclaiming "What will become of us!".

Would anyone want to give up their clothes washing machine, vacuum or central heating?

Aren't we all (commutards of El Reg) employed to automate a wide range tasks?

The best way forward, in my opinion, is to plan the help and support in re-skiling of those that the latest round of automation has made redundant rather than running around declaring "We're all doomed! DOOMED I tell ye!!".