Scientists see robots doing household chores by 2015

The Daily Yomiuri ^ | Jan 24 2005 | Yomiuri Shimbun

[nickcarraway]

By the year 2015, robots will be doing most of the household chores, and by 2025, seismologists will be able to detect huge earthquakes before they strike, according to predictions made by about 2,600 leading experts and scientists in the country.

About 4,200 scientists, university professors, engineers at private companies and researchers at independent administrative corporations were asked by the Education, Science and Technology Ministry to make predictions about what new technologies might be invented within 30 years.

About 2,600 of those polled answered 860 questions, including positing a timetable for each technical innovation and another for when the nation might see widespread use of such technology. The questions were asked of those working in about 13 fields, including electronics.

According to the answers collected by the ministry, most of the experts said that between 2011 and 2015, game software would be developed that could defeat shogi (Japanese chess) masters, and every household would have a robot doing chores such as cleaning and laundering. They predicted that in the next decade, cancer treatments derived by applying an increased understanding of the cancer-causing mechanism would be available, the officials said.

They also said that between 2011 and 2015, telephones capable of simultaneously translating one language to another would be widely used, effective weight-loss medications would be available and a cure for AIDS would be found, ministry officials said.

Between 2016 and 2025, they predicted technology would be developed to detect earthquakes stronger than magnitude 7, leading to a reduction in fatalities and injuries, while a cure for Alzheimer's also would be found, the officials said.

[DannyTN]

I predict that by 2025, many scientists will eat their words.

[Cornpone]

You forgot to mention the joy of scrubbing toilets...or taking out the trash...or mopping stairs...or weeding the driveway...or whatever.

As someone who spends an awful lot of his time working at 30,000 feet plus and traveling all over the world, away from his home and family, I actually take simple pleasure in these mindless but familiar tasks. It is my home and someone has to do them. They are only demeaning if you find life so.

[Clara Lou]

Have we forgotten the joy of cooking...or hunting...or gardening...or raising our children...or of meaningful work...or life
Sure seems like it, doesn't it?

[anniegetyourgun]

Yeah, and I'm Abe Lincoln. Promises, promises....never deliveries.....

[sphinx]

Doing the work Americans don't want to. Gee, will the robots qualify for a guest worker permit, and perhaps eventual citizenship? Only if they're made in Mexico. ;)

Well, they would be more useful than most democrats and entirely without the pathologies, so I guess I have no objection to them voting.

[Centurion2000]

And in 2025 we will STILL not have a viable space infrastructure.

The Power that be are preventing this via the Outer Space Treaty. It's the only explanation.

[Osage Orange]

These robots got nuttin' on the Stepford wives.....

[Rebelbase]

"Scientists see robots doing household chores by 2015"

Scientists see flying cars by 2000.

[ClearCase_guy]

My prediction for the future:

At various times of the next few decades, scientists will predict the future. And these predictions will always turn out to have been wrong.

[Cornpone]

Read my post to AntiGuv...I like to cut the grass, rake the yard, mop my GARAGE floor, take out the trash, take my kids to school, cook, take out the garbage, scrub the baseboards, pickup my kids from school...anything as long as its at home.

[AntiGuv]

Nothing stops anyone from doing all those things if they so choose. I never said anything about demeaning; they're just tedious for the most part. Technology is what you make of it.

[sittnick]

I remember reading predictions in TV Guide for the future. By the 1990's we were supposed to have 3-D television AND large TVs that would hang on the wall like a picture. They got the latter right, it just took a little longer.

Another TV Guide had claimed that in the 1980's, video discs would be on a rubbery surface and mailed in tubes, and would cost $2 to $7. The modern DVD is not rubbery, but they are small, and the programs are within the cost range predicted if you adjust for inflation, it just took an extra 15 years.

And, of course we already have the roomba robot vac. So, who knows?

[rwfromkansas]

Well, it is likely there will be more robots around doing more complex things, but every household using it for laundry etc.? What a joke.....come on.


However, you can get ones now that do sweeping and mowing the grass for cheap.

[Freerepublic_Rules555]

I think its a better Idea if we don't make robots at all. We don't went to make them smarter then us. That is a warning. Please god make this not be true. Also lets hope we can start building space bases on the Moon or Mars soon.

[cripplecreek]

I like doing those things too.

[R. Scott]

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productview.jhtml?sku=IR111&cm_ven=GOOG&cm_cat=Media&cm_pla=Roomba%20Vacuums&cm_ite=robot%20vacuum%20cleaner

[Clara Lou]

Hey, I agree with you. I can't figure out what more meaningful things we will do with that free time. Retired people don't seem to appreciate all that free time. It's the business of life that makes it meaningful.

[Larry Lucido]

They will be. Another thread today is discussing the replacement of "migrant workers" by mechanization. Almost (but not quite) makes a lot of the prior discussion moot.

[Lazamataz]

Just doin' the jobs biological units won't do.....

[Lazamataz]

I can't figure out what more meaningful things we will do with that free time.

My day will consist of: Making love, ogling chicks, reading porn, patting chick's heinies, making love, surfing for porn, ogling chicks, making love, pinching chicks, looking at porn, making love, recording porn, ogling chicks, making love, and making love.