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THE AVERAGE EU citizen believes it will be more than 20 years before robots will be doing our housework, according to a new pan-continental survey.
The Eurobarometer survey on ‘public attitudes towards robots’ finds that the average citizen in 17 counties, including Ireland, thinks it’ll be more than two decades before robotic household appliances are doing the hoovering or hanging out the washing.
30 per cent of Europeans said it would take a fifth of a century for robot-performed chores to become commonplace – though Ireland’s negativity was slightly lower at 28 per cent.
A mere 9 per cent of Irish people, and 8 per cent of Europeans, thought robots would be doing household chores within five years.
Meanwhile, only 9 per cent of the 1,000 Irish respondents to the survey said they had experience of using a robot at home or work – while Irish respondents were in the lowest quarter of those who felt most optimistic about the use of robots in General.
While 66 per cent of Irish people said the continuing and increased use of robots was a positive thing, the European average was 70 per cent – while the Swedes, at 88 per cent, were the most optimistic.
The Swedes’ neighbours in Denmark are the Europeans who most optimistically expect robots to be doing the chores in five years’ time: 27 per cent of the Danish population believes they’ll have their feet up in five years’ time. Lithuanians are the most patient, with 47 per cent believing it’ll take longer than two decades.
Though only 3 per cent of Irish people said they would be comfortable with robots performing childcare tasks – though nearly a fifth of us, 19 per cent, said we’d be happy to undergo physical surgery performed by a robot. The EU average for the latter was 23 per cent.
A full 21 per cent of Irish people, meanwhile, said they’d be okay with a robot walking their dog.
Elsewhere, the survey showed that Ireland’s population was among those least interested in technological and scientific developments – with 33 per cent of respondents saying they had no interest whatsoever in that field.
Only 18 per cent of people expressed an interest, while 47 per cent said they had a moderate interest in the topic.
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Ah so a machine that will always be on call for a family, cleaning, washing , cooking etc.
One that never gets sick or expects thanks or pay?
I think they have invented it. It’s called a Mammy.
They believed that 20 years ago.. Where’s it at ?
have one of these, I was not so optimistic bout it but my girlfriend wanted to get it… have to say, it does impressive job ! push the button, go shopping, and when ure back its all done !
Was just thinking the same, so far there’s dishwashers, those hovering robots, grass cutting robots, robots for cleaning swimming pools.
And this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvwM-7gAbxQ&feature=related
it’s getting there for sure.
Forget about housework, I can’t wait for robot boxing. My son loves the film Real Steel and is constantly begging me to build a fighting robot with him :D
Now you’re talking, Real Steel’s a great movie.
Btw paint some boxes silver, put them on and burst into your sons room some night screaming “Come On you Fu#ker!!”
Stopped my young lad pestering me…
That sounds like a job for Lego Mindstorm!
@ Ailis I think you may be mistaken about someone taking the dog, it’s the robot I would be scared of being taken by a lot of people who will never be able to afford such a luxury but then again it’s nice to dream :)
21% ok with a bot walking their dog???!!! Janey mac!
I’d love one to do my housework and I look forward to the day, but I’ll never let one walk my dog. Not because I don’t trust the robot, but because I don’t trust people. Sure couldn’t they just walk up and take your dog from the poor machine??
But if you’re going to get a robot to walk your dog, why bother getting a dog at all. Probably better off getting a robot dog instead :-D
The sooner they come in the better. Then women will be able to concentrate more on their driving. :)
Sorry Gavan, but this is a complete waste of a story…
We’ve got a robot cutting the grass, bought it online for my elderly mother to save her 2 hours per week work and to not have to do it myself (!)
It’s a great little thing, you just lay a copper wire all around the boundaries and it cuts everything inside them. Only cost €700, worth every penny.
Can’t wait to get one that will do the hoovering, it can’t be too long away
Ha Ha, what they don’t know is that we have them here already. They run the country and are controlled remotely from Germany
Give it a rest.
Can’t wait for my own Kryten
the sooner the better
less work for me ha ha
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