Domo Arrigato?

Mr. Roboto. Domo Domo.

http://www.technologyreview.com/business/37949/?mod=chfeatured

All kidding aside, this is too freaky to pass up my thoughts. NASA has a fully functional robot that works alongside humans during shuttle launches. Sounds a bit too much like Space Odyssey but whatever, it was bound to happen. These robots however are built with soft like limbs and torsos, bringing us closer to the human/android era foretold so many times in science fiction novels.

Honestly at this point, this doesn't sound like too much of a big deal but that was a year ago. Now there are putting the robots to more land-based production. All those huge factories to make large auto parts with big bulky iconic arms are going to be replaced with these smaller robot models, making it safer for robots to interact with humans. That sounds great and all until the robots replace all of the manufacturing needs where humans USED the robots to create these large parts in factories. In my mind, this is like outsourcing but no one is benefiting except the people making the robots. Yes, I believe in improvements in technology but this is getting a bit freaky. I'm sure in another 5 years this will be the norm and something else outrageous will change the waters.