WALL-E is a new animated feature film from Disney that shows a robot from the future whose sole mission is to help the human race. But the technology is already here, and shown to work.

This is uBot, a small automated robot which is being developed to help people keep in touch with their family, and look after elderly relatives from a distance using the Internet.

This video shows the robot in action, but as brilliant as the technology is, I do wonder if it somehow lacks something that is needed for proper human interaction. Yes, that’s it, it isn’t human.

I’m not saying this doesn’t have a future, but I wouldn’t be happy being looked after by a mute, non-communicative piece of electronic equipment in my old age. Would you?