In Kurt Vonnegut’s first novel Player Piano (1952), the near-future society portrayed is almost entirely mechanized, eliminating the need for human laborers. This widespread mechanization creates conflict between the engineers and managers who keep society running and those whose skills and purpose in society have been replaced by machines.

This is fiction, of course. But could it happen?

The history of using robots goes back quite far. For instance, they have been used for cleaning large petrochemical and other storage tanks that must be periodically cleaned and inspected for corrosion. With robots, the job can be done quickly, thoroughly, with less danger to humans, and without having to drain the tank completely.

Today, we use robots for surgery; dispensing medication; locating deadly explosives on battlefields and arming soldiers with the best intelligence and combat options; working in nuclear power plants; and faster, more efficient work in warehouses.

Automakers, of course, have relied on robots for spot welding and painting. Now researchers have started using robot-like chairs to position autoworkers in vehicle interiors, Forbes reports. The benefits include less stress for human muscles and bones as well as greater productivity.

Toyota Motor Corp. President Katsuaki Watanabe recently announced the automaker’s plans to focus on robots that will be useful to people in everyday life, according to BetaNews. The announcement mentions “mobility robots that transport the disabled, medical and construction assistants.” Of course, Toyota envisions putting “robots to use in its own facilities over the next few years.”

As robots develop to a point where they can make their own decisions, they continue to emerge from the factory floor into homes and workplaces.

At this month’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Spykee series developed by Meccano and Tribot and Rovio, from Wow wee, were unveiled. Yet even more sophisticated worker robots appeared in the pipeline, such as the iRobiQ, from Yujin Robots of South Korea.

As U.K.’s Daily Mail recently pointed out:

The robots — like iRobiQ — which are linked into the home’s own technology and broadband internet service, will effectively become the technology hubs of the home. Voice commands to the robot would be translated into wireless signals to turn on the washing machine, change the TV channel, dim the lights or change the music.

And group buying director at PC World, Simon Turner, told the Daily Mail: “Consumer robotics is a sector that is expanding rapidly and we're betting that we'll all have some kind of robot servant in our homes within 10 years.”

Japanese company Tmsuk, which makes humanoid robots, anticipates demand for their more lifelike products. (Source: IT Business Edge).

When today’s humanoid robots are equipped with artificial intelligence, different groups will view them from various perspectives.

For instance, businesspeople may prefer robots to humans because the robots won’t need expensive health-care benefits or expect a pension. Nor will robots need work visas. On the other hand, if materials and energy prices reach astronomical heights, it could cost a manufacturer less to offer jobs to humans.

At last year’s RoboBusiness 2007, the international business development event for the mobile robotics and intelligent systems industry, showcased a motley mix of consumer, commercial and military robots. At the conference, Carnegie Mellon University announced its 2007 Robot Hall of Fame inductees, comprised of both real and science fiction robots — and for the first time, the jury selected more robots from science in fact than science fiction. Three of the four robots selected by a jury of 25 leading roboticists were built by actual scientists.

At this year’s event (April 8-10), “Achieving Autonomy” will be the theme.

As we see automation already result in job losses — such as on assembly lines — the question arises: What would a society in which few manufacturing jobs are available to human workers look like?

So far, it seems either those laborers who’ve lost manufacturing jobs to robotic counterparts have taken positions in the service sector. Clearly on the horizon, though, robots could be taking service jobs, too, as many former software writers and some secretaries and receptionists will attest.

In the fight for jobs, the entrance of robots into the mix may be far off into the future. But it does seem plausible. If that happens, would you trust your toddler with a robotic nanny?

Resources

Will Companies Use Robots to Do Dirty Work – and More?
by Ann All
IT Business Edge, Nov. 13, 2007

Man Vs. Machine
by Christopher Steiner
Forbes, Dec. 24, 2007

Robot Surgery and the Anesthesiologist
by Paul H. Ting, M.D.
AnesthesiologyInfo.com

Pharmacy Robot Immune to Error
by Kristy Davies
Courier Post, Oct. 29, 2007

Battle of the Bots
by Alan Boyle
MSNBC, Nov. 12, 2007

Wall-Climbing Robot for Inspection in Nuclear Power Plants
by L. Riones, P. Bustamente and M.A. Serna
IEEE, May 8, 1994

India Builds Robot to Work in Nuclear Power Plants
The Age, Aug. 28, 2002

Android Shows Off People-Lifting Skills
NikkeiNet, Mainichi (via Pink Tentacle), March 30, 2007

Monkey’s Thoughts Propel Robot, a Step that May Help Humans
by Sandra Blakeslee
The New York Times, Jan. 15, 2008

U.S Army Accelerates Testing of iRobot’s Future Combat Systems Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle
iRobot, Jan. 17, 2008

Harry T. Roman
New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame, 2005

Forget PCs: Microsoft Has Eyes – and OS on Robots
by Loraine Lawson
IT Business Edge, Sept. 11, 2007

About the Robots
Anybots.com

Toyota President: Robotics Will Be a Core Business
by Ed Oswald
BetaNews, Dec. 6, 2007

Robot Servants that Do the Housework to Be in British Homes 'within Ten Years'
by Sean Poulter
The Daily Mail, Jan. 15, 2008