The coming robot zombie apocalypse of... Slapstick Comedy

michaels

lisyloo wrote: »

So you think I'll be able to explain to a robot how I want my hair done and they'll be able to interpret my desires and my hair type/face shape like a human hairdresser?

Will they be able to answer the question "does my bum look big in this?" like a retail assistant would?

I'm not convinced there aren't plenty of jobs we'll still need humans for. Not least selling.

There is already a hotel where check in is by humanoid robots. With robots your hairdresser can be programmed with the skills of <insert name of famous hairdresser here> and your retail assistant (who may well produce or alter your clothes real time) can be a clone of Win Kok (famous designer right?)

kabayiri

My barber asks me what kind of cut I want and then does his own thing anyway!

I'd imagine robo-barber could be equally adept at ignoring my wishes.

kabayiri

This problem involving robots and stairs goes way back
https://youtu.be/mRDl5_-wJ0Y

lisyloo

They might be able to answer, but would they be too honest?

Exactly.
How will you give them attributes like charm, charisma (or lies if you prefer).

People go on cruises to be treated like a king/queen.
People go down the pub to enjoy the landlord banter and even the hairdress/masseuse is an amateur phycologist (ok, a good listener).

I can see some jobs like packnig orders, driving, piloting being automated but jobs that require higher levels of personal interaction are not on the agenda just yet.

kabayiri

lisyloo wrote: »

...
I'm not convinced there aren't plenty of jobs we'll still need humans for. Not least selling.

I can just imagine a similar conversation, trying to explain some of the products we have taken for granted with a Victorian, and their response :

"What? You just put money into a wardrobe sized box, and it *gives* you a drink out of a slot? Can't see that catching on at all."

"A photo booth? Booth? No thanks. I shall stick with my professional family portrait photographer"

"Self scan tills? What!! Do I have to bag the items myself? I do! No chance "

I suggest the evidence is there that our attitudes do change.

(and the robot could probably do a bit of laser bottom surgery on the side, if needed)

lisyloo

trying to explain some of the products we have taken for granted with a Victorian

Ok, but that's not "in my lifetime".
I'm not saying it will never happen, just doubting that the older members of society are going to see this.
We don't even yet have widespread use of robots doing simple tasks like vacuuming and lawn cutting.

Look at what's happened with car washes !!
We have machines but there's a great big queue for handwashing.

Interesting that you mention drinks machines.
Most are pretty awful and most people would prefer to get their coffee made by a person than get a terrible latte from a coin operated machine.

globalds

lisyloo wrote: »

Look at what's happened with car washes !!
We have machines but there's a great big queue for handwashing.

Interesting that you mention drinks machines.
Most are pretty awful and most people would prefer to get their coffee made by a person than get a terrible latte from a coin operated machine.

Interesting you mention it that way.

I have to agree to a certain extent.. Automation is often seen a s a cheap alternative.

But aren't the two things you quoted something that was very good as new tech when it arrived and has been pushed back by the endeavour and smartness of humans.
Vending coffee might be bad ..But only of you compare it to starbucks ..Car washing is similar ..those Eastern Europeans have a well designed market model ..that saw a bench mark and went beyond it for the same price.

There is a bot that has snuck in and stayed in ..The ATM ..This money handling bot has popped up everywhere ..I myself have never paid to use it ..But I can't recall the last time I asked a member of bank staff for my money ..That tech must be as old as the car wash or drinks machine ?

Cornucopia

The thing is that deployment of technology isn't solely about the technology - it's also about the cost-benefits of deployment. And part of that is that the technology has to be "good enough". But it doesn't need to be perfect.

Arguably, most food & drink vending machines are good examples of being "just good enough". They have obvious flaws, and in some cases produce a poor quality product, but they are good enough in the places that they are placed to attract a profitable level of trade, where a manned shop would probably be either impractical or unviable.

The breakthrough for robotics will be to find a suitable application, where the technology is good enough, and it makes commercial sense to use it. Once that happens, the market can surge ahead as economies of scale kick in.

I'm slightly surprised that this hasn't happened yet with vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers, but I suspect it's only a matter of time.

lisyloo

There is a bot that has snuck in and stayed in ..The ATM ..This money handling bot has popped up everywhere ..I myself have never paid to use it ..But I can't recall the last time I asked a member of bank staff for my money ..That tech must be as old as the car wash or drinks machine ?

Yep agreed. The ATM does a near perfect job 24/7.
Agree with Cornucopia - the benefit has to be there.

I don't mind doing the hoovering now and again so I wouldn't pay a fortune for a bot and at the moment they don't appear to have the intelligence to deal with anything out of the ordinary.
Give us a bot that can do a reasonable job of the ironing and people will buy it in spades because most people hate that job - so it's all about the benefits.

kabayiri

Forget ironing. Clothes which don't require ironing will replace that chore

This article is interesting, looking at the roles which are under threat.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/8-skilled-jobs-may-soon-replaced-robots/

I'm familiar with the call centre initiative .... not good if you are one of the 25,000+ people who work in the sector up here.