If I had a robot

If I had a robot, I'd name him "Your Eminence". And I'd tell him that it's his job to ensure that my ponytail stays in back when I bend over to wash my face or brush my teeth.

If you had a robot, what would you name him? And what vital task would you let the robot handle for you?

Robot takeover begins

Hmm, so let's see. This week Watson the computer brain trounced two mere humans in a mental match. And now they've (don't you love "they"?) made a robot hand that's exactly like our own. Next step: adding something that looks like skin, feels like skin, and performs the essential duties that skin performs for humans (sensing heat and textures, etc.)

It seems Ken Jennings was right. It's time to submit to our new computer overlords. Well, almost. These are the beginnings of something fresh and new, folks. Take note.

Oh, for a robot companion

I long for an robot companion. At least, we used to call them robots. But as they inched closer and closer to human form -- in fiction, anyway -- someone invented a term to distinguish these human-form robots from their tin predecessors. And this happened in the 1860s; is that weird, or what? I had thought it was a modern term.

In any case, we now have the term android, meaning a robot in human form. Me, I like robot. No need to muddy the issue. And I think when the reality comes along we'll call them what they are: robots. Sorry if this offends you, Data.

If humans still exist in the distant future, they will live with robots (or more likely, be robots, but I'll cover that in a later post). These machines will be so sophisticated we can't even sniff it from here. These perfect beings call to me, especially as I drift off to sleep. I would give my (nonexistent) soul to meet one, and even more, maybe something real, to be one.

All of which is a major digression on the way to a simple book query. In one of Isaac Asimov's stories, there is a scene where someone, perhaps Daneel Olivaw, visits a woman who lives with robot companions. On her world, humans no longer interact physically. They live their lives entirely without human contact, preferring the company of robots -- as servants, companions and lovers. I liked the sound of that.

The problem is, I'm vague about where I read this. Maybe it wasn't even Asimov. I would love to reread the book or story. If this is familiar to anyone and they can point me to the book, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.