people, schmeople. i need a robot.

waiting for a cake to bake, i read this article. the part that kinda freaks me out is this:

"Robots are seen in Japan as one way to deal with a rapidly aging population and combat an impending labour shortage. The country's population of 127 million is expected to plunge 30 per cent by 2055, with those aged 65 or older making up 40 per cent of that figure, according to government forecasts released earlier this week.

Amid a general reluctance to accept more foreign labourers, robots are seen as a way to make up the shortfall either directly or by helping older people work longer. Robots could also help care for the country's growing elderly population, analysts say."

robots to take of our children and elderly? huh. i thought robots would be taking over the mundane stuff so that we could spend more time with our families or our art or laying around in hammocks or whatever other fulfilling things that we choose...

in the future, will we keep collecting the trash and licking envelopes and working in stifling jobs while robots "care" for those of us who aren't in the labour force? man, i feel cheated.