Study Says 4.1M Domestic Robots In Use By 2007

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Study Says 4.1M Domestic Robots In Use By 2007

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday October 21, 2004 @12:00AM from the let-the-machine-do-it dept.

jangobongo writes "The U.N.'s annual World Robotics Survey for 2004 predicts that there will be a seven-fold surge in household robots by the end of 2007. Robots that mow your lawn, vacuum, wash windows, clean swimming pools, as well as entertainment robots such as Aibo are all vying to take a place in our homes and ease our workload. The study says that Japan is the leader in consumer robotics, with Europe and North America quickly catching up."

24 of 218 comments (clear)

Let me be the first to say... by metlin · 2004-10-21 00:01 · Score: 5, Funny

I, for one, welcome our new lawn mowing window washing swim suit wearing robotic over...err...dogs?
1. Re:Let me be the first to say... by stecoop · 2004-10-21 01:18 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Nothing times a billion is still nothing
  
  This is true for regular algebra but in calculus there are formulas where even though the regular math proves 0*n = 0; studying points as they approach really close to the numbers will show that sometimes will not be zero. Like sin(x)/x as x -> 0 should be Undefined right? Well as you study the limits on both sides of 0 to infinite "closeness" you'll see that the formula actually equates to 1. Therefore if you had sin(x)/x as x -> 0 * billion it would equal a billion. Weird huh?
Time to get by beacher · 2004-10-21 00:02 · Score: 5, Funny

ROBOT INSURANCE!!!!! Because robots have steel claws and they eat old peoples medicine for food!
1. Re:Time to get by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-21 00:36 · Score: 0, Funny
  
  Excuse me, you are standing on my dick.
by 2007 by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-21 00:04 · Score: 1, Funny

By 2007 we'll probably all have a personal hovercraft.
The U.N.'s annual World Robotics Survey for 2004? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-21 00:07 · Score: 2, Funny

They are going to have to change their charter!

"WE THE PEOPLES..."

to

"WE THE PEOPLES AND ROBOTSES..."

see

http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/index.html
what will the kiddies do then? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-21 00:10 · Score: 5, Funny

Robots that mow your lawn, vacuum, wash windows, clean swimming pools
I thought this was why people had kids.
1. Re:what will the kiddies do then? by catherder_finleyd · 2004-10-21 00:27 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  The kids will still have jobs programming the robots:
  
  "Hey Son, How do you program this thing? It's still flashing 12:00!"
2. Re:what will the kiddies do then? by zymurgy_cat · 2004-10-21 00:31 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I thought this was why people had kids.
  
  True, but your RoboMower won't drink your beer, invite its pierced, strangely dressed friends over to your house, listen to loud scary music, spend extended periods of time in the bathroom doing who-knows-what, ask to borrow the car and then not put any gas in it, or put you in a home when you get old and senile.
  
  --
  -- Fugacity: Confusing chemists since 1908
3. Re:what will the kiddies do then? by lachlan76 · 2004-10-21 00:38 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  True, but your RoboMower won't drink your beer, invite its pierced, strangely dressed friends over to your house, listen to loud scary music, spend extended periods of time in the bathroom doing who-knows-what, ask to borrow the car and then not put any gas in it, or put you in a home when you get old and senile.
  
  Don't worry, it'll be out in the next release.
Robot modding... by jmcmunn · 2004-10-21 00:12 · Score: 2, Funny

When we all have house cleaning robots, or window washing robots how long do you think it will be before people mod them to be other things. Picture this....

I just overclocked my WindowWasher PCXL and modded it to become the most powerful BattleBot ever!! Wax on, Wax off...
it has to be said... by Lumpy · 2004-10-21 00:12 · Score: 2, Funny

this is our future?

--
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Satanic Robot Chicks Again by zenmojodaddy · 2004-10-21 00:13 · Score: 3, Funny

I may have mentioned this before, but Anton LaVey suggested that the next big industry will be the production of robotic companions, because they can be programmed to provide the exact type of stimulation or gratification that the user requires, thus avoiding the need to interact with real people who are imperfect at best.

Natch, the Slashdot model will look like Princess Leia, know how to handle a soldering iron, and talk about how great Linux is. Or something...

There may also be an easily-repairable Wesley Crusher model for those 'GNYAR!' moments. Or Jar Jar Binks. Or that ultimate nightmare, Jar Jar Crusher.
1. Re:Satanic Robot Chicks Again by Anita+Coney · 2004-10-21 00:26 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Put a robot in one of these and I'd consider buying one! Or two!
  
  --
  If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
Re:The future...comming soon by Uninvited+Guest · 2004-10-21 00:14 · Score: 2, Funny

Ignore parent post; he's a robot, and cannot be trusted...

Okay, he's not really a robot, he's just a guy in my office...

but, I still don't trust. He kinda... you know... talks like a robot.

--
Sometimes I worry that I'll develop Alzheimer's disease, but no one will notice.
four million robotses... by gomel · 2004-10-21 00:19 · Score: 3, Funny

... and none have the three Laws of Robotniks programmed in.
I smell trouble.

--
Fight Frist Psoting!
Browse Slashdot with 'Newest First'!
First off.... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-21 00:20 · Score: 0, Funny

Sam Waterston is awesome.

Secondly, imagine, if you will, a world where Real Dolls meet Abio. Ruff ruff.
Re:Another type of robots by MikeDX · 2004-10-21 00:23 · Score: 3, Funny

I'm not. I for one welcome our Artificially inteligent Latex overl. erm... ladies?
Re:What is a robot? by Hittite+Creosote · 2004-10-21 00:27 · Score: 3, Funny

When the machine that washes the dirty dishes comes and collects them from the table first, then you can call it a robot.
Robots don't cry. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-21 00:30 · Score: 0, Funny

Not even at "Steel Magnolias"
'Seven-fold surge' by welshwaterloo · 2004-10-21 00:36 · Score: 1, Funny

Seven-fold surge, eh?
I'm too lazy to do the math - can someone tell me what 7 x 0 is..?
Re:Yup by fleener · 2004-10-21 00:42 · Score: 3, Funny

Don't blame us if you haven't bought your own flying car yet. Cheap bastard.
Re:What is a robot? by yummy1991 · 2004-10-21 00:48 · Score: 0, Funny

Mom's a bot?
Re:maybe it's just me by DLR · 2004-10-21 01:06 · Score: 3, Funny

Buy a goat?

--
"Like fire and fusion, government is a dangerous servant and a terrible master."~RAH