Is it just me or is the world of automation going just that little bit mad now?

i've just seen a news article where Ocado are developing robot arms to pick items for online shopping deliveries. For heavens sake stop automating everything - if thats the future then there is no future. There are no humans - just skynet and terminators!

Driverless cars - why?
Robots behind a bar - why?
Thermostats linked to your wrist watch - why?

I know automation has its advantages, the bank in the wall is great and if is saves lives then ok but why on earth am i being brain washed into thinking i need to turn my lights on with my phone? Are we really than efin lazy that we can't turn a dial, flip a switch or use a teaspoon to put coffee in a cup anymore.

Have we reached a point where we are progressing just for the hell of it?

...and breathe 405 AB exec seats Baltic and Cirrus
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Not being lazy, I suppose you don’t use a remote control for your TV - and always unlock you car with the key ?

Im so lazy i dont even change my own gears

Driverless cars - why? Some lunatics dont enjoy driving
Robots behind a bar - why? Novelty. I dont think you can replace humans in roles where a person expects interaction etc
Thermostats linked to your wrist watch - why? Timed climate but for your house?

I get what you are saying. Alot of these innovations are pure and dont rival the original manual way of doing things. Coffee pods for example - A good cup of coffee is worth buying a gaggia and doing it right, Otherwise get a french press or drink instant. 100 quid for a nespresso machine and getting stuck with one vendor for ever after sounds like a bad idea.

I have a similar gripe when people pay someone to do simple jobs....

Alistair wrote:

Not being lazy, I suppose you don’t use a remote control for your TV - and always unlock you car with the key ?

Missing my point completely.

Automation has its place but it seems like we have reached a plateaux where its just for the hell of it from now on - just my honest opinion.  405 AB exec seats Baltic and Cirrus
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Remember it's easier to get forgiveness than permission!

Gone in order:
4.4 TDV8 SE - gone to a good home
93 Classic hard dash Plymouth Blue
03 L322 Oslo Blue
2000 Disco TD5 ES Epsom Green
98 P38 Rioja Red
89 Classic Cairngorm Brown

It just takes time to become normal - like an auto gearbox, or sat nav

Driverless car - yes please, on a long run, I’d love to flip it to auto and drive through the night.

Robot bar man - if I get served quicker, what’s not to like, i’m not there for the social interaction

Heating off all day and warms the house up as I arrive home - why is that a bad thing ?

Personally I like some of it.

Lights from my phone, yes, why? Because I can then time individual bulbs on the system so I can turn them on and off automatically while I’m away. Yes you Could do something similar with a time switch but, the electronicalness can vary the times automatically and switch the main lights not just the lamps you have on timers. No you don’t use it when you are in that’s not the point.

Thermostat from your phone, as alistair says has its uses.

Robotic surgeons able to operate from the other side of the world, now that’s useful.

Robotic bar staff...... probably a bit far... why not just have a wall of vending machines full of beer🤪 now there’s a concept... bet that would work in London...... There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
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I often feel the same Ajac8. As a species we need interaction with others. This is being slowly eroded by automation. Sure it has its benefits.
The lyrics in "Sound of Silence " by Simon and Garfunkel come to mind. I feel the same about Facebook and all the derivations and have no interest in them. But each to their own. I just feel it has much to do with amount of frustration and anger witnessed these days. Folks are increasingly feeling unfulfilled. 2007 Vogue TDV8 in Zermatt Silver with Charcoal

A lot of it's to do with big business pushing it. You employ bar staff and you give the salary to the staff, employ a robot and you pay big business for the robot, so business will push that. Driverless cars just the same, it's the next new thing on the list to get you to buy another new car, money for business again. Electric cars the same, Government's been told it can't happen and never will, by the time the infrastructure is in place to charge them quickly at the majority of homes electric vehicle will be being phased out, but by then business will have taken loads of dollars.

It's not important to business whether it's beneficial or not for you to buy an item, all they want is your money no matter if you can afford to give it them or not.

Agree wholeheartedly with all you've said Rodp. It's all greed driven. I have done much research on this and could go on for hours but it's still Xmas so will close the lid on that can of worms for now.
Time for a cuppa and a mince pie. I'll make the tea in a pot with leaves too, none of these new fangled bags.  2007 Vogue TDV8 in Zermatt Silver with Charcoal