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The driving force that makes robots and accompanying automation a foregone conclusion is the requirement that we increase economic productivity. Granted, they'r

The driving force that makes robots and accompanying automation a foregone conclusion is the requirement that we increase economic productivity. Granted, they're crude, but reviewing robots based on the quality of their human-ness seems to miss the bigger picture and what will drive their adoption.

pcurve 4y ago
That's a fair point. I'm sure more experimentation and optimization in form factor will happen, depending on use case and settings. There's no need to engineer unnecessary humanoid qualities beyond what is necessary due to cost.
TulliusCicero 4y ago
Automation is really interesting, especially how sometimes some companies are so far ahead of others. Sometimes when I check out of a hotel I still gotta stand in line and talk to a clerk -- which is intensely frustrating, because there's this sense of, "all I need to do is hand in this damn keycard" -- other times I just drop the hotel key in a box. Hell, apparently some hotels you can just check in with an app and use the app to unlock the door. Today I dropped off a rental car and the employee just scanned a barcode on the windshield and said, "okay just put the keys on the dash, you're good to go". Such a huge improvement over what it used to be, years ago.
- whimsicalism 4y ago
  I haven't experienced a hotel where I actually need to do any formal "check out" in quite a while. I bet if you just leave with the keycard they will figure it out.
  - TulliusCicero 4y ago
    I had it happen to me earlier this year, and yes it was faintly bizarre. Why do they still need this? Similar to, "what exactly is the hotel/flight clerk typing in when I'm checking in? Why do they need to type so much info, when nothing has changed from when I booked the flight?"
conductr 4y ago
I think that’s true and a more casual setting may prevail. Sometimes a part of the restaurant experience is being served and when done well can make for an exceptional experience. I can see myself consuming both depending on time, place and mood.

pcurve 4y ago

That's a fair point. I'm sure more experimentation and optimization in form factor will happen, depending on use case and settings. There's no need to engineer unnecessary humanoid qualities beyond what is necessary due to cost.

TulliusCicero 4y ago

Automation is really interesting, especially how sometimes some companies are so far ahead of others. Sometimes when I check out of a hotel I still gotta stand in line and talk to a clerk -- which is intensely frustrating, because there's this sense of, "all I need to do is hand in this damn keycard" -- other times I just drop the hotel key in a box. Hell, apparently some hotels you can just check in with an app and use the app to unlock the door. Today I dropped off a rental car and the employee just scanned a barcode on the windshield and said, "okay just put the keys on the dash, you're good to go". Such a huge improvement over what it used to be, years ago.

whimsicalism 4y ago
I haven't experienced a hotel where I actually need to do any formal "check out" in quite a while. I bet if you just leave with the keycard they will figure it out.
- TulliusCicero 4y ago
  I had it happen to me earlier this year, and yes it was faintly bizarre. Why do they still need this? Similar to, "what exactly is the hotel/flight clerk typing in when I'm checking in? Why do they need to type so much info, when nothing has changed from when I booked the flight?"

conductr 4y ago

I think that’s true and a more casual setting may prevail. Sometimes a part of the restaurant experience is being served and when done well can make for an exceptional experience. I can see myself consuming both depending on time, place and mood.