Robot maids

Via MachinesLikeUs:

Kim Mun-sang, a researcher at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Monday said the artificial-intelligence robots [H-Robot 1.0] will assist senior citizens in various fashions.

``In 2013, a senior citizen will instruct a voice-cognitive robot to order food from a nearby restaurant for dinner then it will follow its owner's words to the letter,'' Kim said.

``Then, the smart robot will take out the dishes and lay the table with the delivered food. Cleaning up the table and washing the dishes will also be up to the mechanical servant,'' the 49-year-old said.

Kim projected the envisioned humanoid, which is likely to move on wheels, will also act as a loyal secretary and close friend of its elderly possessor.

``The cutting-edge robots will be capable of many caregiver tasks like verbalizing scripted reminders _ his or her daily schedule or time to take medicine,'' Kim said.

A meds compliance robot, good idea. Might it dispense too? This is all just a plan right now.

Kim has spearheaded the state-funded 10-year project of building ``silver robots'' since 2003, geared toward grappling with problems of an aging society.

We'll hear from them again in 2013, but there'll be something better by then.