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July 14, 2005

Five Years Ago, This Was Science Fiction

You know you're living in the real and actual future, one forecast by sf writers and cheesy TV shows and movies, when in the course of reading through the New York Times (on the Internet, of course), you come across this article. Household robots appear, at long last, to be becoming viable. So far the bot in this story, called Nuvo, is not much more than a companion gadget, but it's easy to see how, with a few more versions and upgrades, this technology might start getting more useful.

I mean, just read these first few paragraphs from the story. Not long ago, you'd have sworn you were reading a science fiction story rather than a newspaper article. (And yes, since this is the New York Times, reading the piece requires either registering (free and painless, plus you get access to interesting material), or the use of Bugmenot. Either way, it's worth having a read.)

I, Roommate: The Robot Housekeeper Arrives

By MARK ALLEN

Published: July 14, 2005

WHEN my home robot arrived last month, its smiling inventors removed it from its box and laid it on its back on my living room floor. They leaned over and spoke to it, as one might to a sleeping child.

It straightened, let out a little beep, lighted up, looked left and right, and then, amazingly, stood and faced me.

I said, "Nuvo, how are you?"

It tilted to the left, and raised one arm to greet me. It shook my hand and winked with one of the lights in its little head. My life hasn't really been the same since.

Posted by adrian at July 14, 2005 07:05 PM

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Posted by: dshan at July 15, 2005 06:19 PM

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