Why I want a robot nanny

The Week ^ | October 6, 2016 | Ruth Margolis

[TigerLikesRooster]

Why I want a robot nanny

Ruth Margolis

I'm a tech-phobic parent — not exactly the sort of person who gets excited about the idea of letting a machine watch my children. But when I heard about the newly developed iPal — a doe-eyed, 3-foot-tall robot companion — I couldn't help but see the potential advantages to struggling parents of young kids. So many of us are crippled by the costs of childcare, sleep deprived and, frankly, bored. (You try coming up with 37 different scenarios for "The Wheels on the Bus" before breakfast...)

Is it really so crazy to think you could go on Amazon and pick up a pint-sized android, complete with surveillance cam, to keep your kids amused, inspired, and safe for a few hours every day? No one is suggesting that we hand squishy newborns over to cooing robo-nannies and walk out the door whistling — at least not yet. iPal is designed exclusively for the three-plus set and it's a glorified toy rather than a robot sitter. You shouldn't actually leave a child — of any age — in its care.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Moms may find out later that their kids talk and behave like their nanny robots. They also want their moms to respond to them like robots, such as having infinite patience for their tantrum and putting up with droning talking style.

We will have robo-kids twitting each other to no end.

[Scythian_Reborn]

I want a Robot Wife, a hot one ...

[Steely Tom]

[Democrat_media]

Are those out there yet?

[Scythian_Reborn]

Very close now, if not ready, can’t search on that at work as it might take me to some bad links, but yes, they’re here or a year or two away

[GreenHornet]

Okay, I’m really showing my age here, but does anyone remember a TV program called “My Living Doll” (I think it lasted one season.) It starred Robert Cummings and Julie Newmar (who later achieved lasting fame as “the Catwoman” on the “Batman” TV series.) Julie Newmar played “Rhoda the Robot.”

[GreenHornet]

Okay, I’m really showing my age here, but does anyone remember a TV program called “My Living Doll” (I think it lasted one season.) It starred Robert Cummings and Julie Newmar (who later achieved lasting fame as “the Catwoman” on the “Batman” TV series.) Julie Newmar played “Rhoda the Robot.”

[TigerLikesRooster]

Liberals won't let you have one unless the robot is approved by regulatory body staffed with feminists, who would ban anything remotely sexy.

[ClearCase_guy]

One of my favorite books is "The Diamond Age" by Neal Stephenson.

It's basically part of the steampunk genre within Science Fiction. For part of the world, Victorian manners and morals have returned, along with advanced nanotechnology. It is explicitly stated that the moral decay of the late 20th century was rejected and a return to "proper values" had been found beneficial.

A major plot device is an extremely advanced book (powered by nanotechnology) which is used to raise a poor orphan girl in the equivalent of a Victorian slum.

She mostly interacts with her book which is very responsive, but which is, essentially, a computer. Little Nell is extremely smart and extremely well educated, but she is "different". At one point she is interacting with a human who is, of course, a member of police society --

"Nell, you must be aware that your unusual upbringing may be a handicap. You must mind the protocol."
"Explain protocol."
"Well, that's what I mean. You can't just say 'Explain protocol'. People expect something a bit more ... conversational."
"Miss Haversham, if it would not unduly occupy your time, would you be good enough to educate me somewhat on the meaning and social importance of this practice which you have identified as 'protocol'?"

This does not really set Miss Haversham at ease.

[ClearCase_guy]

police = polite

[wally_bert]

A robot mistress for the already married?

I couldn’t resist the lame attempt at humor.

A Robocop wouldn’t be a bad thing, at least for the high crime areas.

[Steely Tom]

Okay, I’m really showing my age here, but does anyone remember a TV program called “My Living Doll” (I think it lasted one season.) It starred Robert Cummings and Julie Newmar (who later achieved lasting fame as “the Catwoman” on the “Batman” TV series.) Julie Newmar played “Rhoda the Robot.”

I've pre-ordered the Heather Locklear model.

[MeganC]

Unlike our current crop of militarized police a robocop could be programmed to leave law abiding people alone.

[BipolarBob]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092746/

[mainestategop]

most Americans already have an equivalent of some type of hi-tech nanny. Most of them Democrats FYI...

TV: Teaching our youth everything they need to know cuz pop culture teaches us what our parents had no time to say!

[wbill]

WBill Jr got raised by "Alton Brown's Good Eats" cooking show, when he was little.

If memory serves, it came on at 2am, and ended at 3am. He'd plunk in the middle of me in the recliner and settle in to watch. The show was guaranteed to hold his attention and quiet him down if he was crying, the quiet would let his mother sleep, and I could sometimes grab an extra nap, too.

Now, the kid is a great cook, but he evaluates food like a critic: "The Spaghetti-Os are piquant, with hints of tomato and garlic. The juice pouch, while pleasing to the eye, is overly-sugared.".

Go figure. :-)

[pabianice]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Sing_the_Body_Electric_(The_Twilight_Zone)

[wally_bert]

I’d like the Joe Friday AI module.

[BubbaBasher]

I want this one.

[Jack Hammer]

We all do, Dear.

In a French maid’s costume.