WORLD ACHIEVEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1939, Page 8

WORLD ACHIEVEMENT

THE ROBOT AGE. The Robot is an achievement. How far it is a wise achievement, and whether we shall ultimately come to deplore its presence, remains to be seen. The fact is, we live in an age when it seems superfluous to do anything ourselves. Why do with our own hands what a Robot can do so much more efficiently and quickly with his hands? i Our Robots seem to think. Ships arc steered by the sperry-gyro-com-pass more accurately than any seaman could ever steer a ship. Before long, we imagine, there will be the Robot shop assistant—a mechanical device which will quickly and simply do all that a perfect coun-ter-hand can do —asking what madam would like, displaying some of the wares, cutting off a length of dress material, writing it all down, and giving change. The photo-electric cell has come to stay—a Robot which serves us in a thousand ways, from counting to correcting examination papers, opening doors, and putting lamps out. Still more amazing is the machine ; which takes plates of glass as a girl feeds them into it. cuts them across with a diamond, turns the plate round and ruts it diagonally again, breaks the glass neatly and accurately, and hands the four triangles to another girl. Bdt. there is no end to the Robots I which are ousting labour and throwing i honest men out of work. Soon, we ■ j may think, the skilled labourer will , | be replaced by the mechanical worki I man.