Robots are one of the most popular visions of the future, evident in many science fiction novels, from Isaac Asimov's "I Robot" to Douglas Adam's "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." Often humankind fears that robotics technology could get so advanced that these cybernetic organisms will begin thinking and acting for themselves, with little regard for human hierarchy. However, the robots we use today are quite harmless and perform a number of useful functions.

Scientists are looking at how robots may function medically to help people live longer, more productive lives. For instance, researchers found that test monkeys can move a robotic hand simply by using their minds. That hand can wave, peel a banana and pick up items, just by reading the brain's electrical output.

Doctors say medical robots can help stroke victims or paraplegics accomplish everyday tasks. Currently, electronic wheelchairs can maneuver and computers can type based on one's thoughts. Dr. Bruce Volpe of the Burke Medical Research Institute is developing a "robotic therapist," which will help stroke patients perform arm exercises. "By improving movement in the shoulder and upper arm, patients can do simple things like push objects across a table, use a computer mouse or write," he explains.

Rehabilitation is another fascinating use for robots. At a consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, Paro Roberts revealed his $6,000 robotic seals that may replace cat and dog therapeutic robots used in hospitals and nursing homes. These exotic machines are also finding their way into homes, as they're cheaper (and easier) than caring for a traditional pet.

This robot, named Paro after its creator, reacts with noises and expressions of approval or disapproval, depending on how it's handled. Japanese robotics engineering creators say that robots could be the key to helping an aging population with problems of loneliness. "Playing with robots reduces problem behavior and they gain a certain peace of mind," explains Toshiyo Tamura, a professor at the National Institute for Longevity Sciences.

Who could forget the ever-so-endearing "Rosie," the house-cleaning robot from The Jetsons? While she seemed like every homeowner's dream come true back in 1962, her doppelgangers are now becoming a reality in 2009. Engineers at MIT Humanoid Robot Group say "Domo" can place objects on a shelf, put away dishes, turn lights on or off, fetch items, put away groceries, set the table, carry boxes and follow basic commands. While the technology is far too expensive to be commonplace in every household right now, the future for intelligent robots is bright.



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Developing a humanoid robot has long since captured the human imagination and will be the continued focus in the future of robotics. Scientists say there are two obstacles to creating a robot with human or super-human intelligence: vision and processing sensory information. "It is almost impossible to predict when machines will become as clever as humans," admits Ronald Arkin, a robotics expert at the Mobile Robot Laboratory in Atlanta, Georgia. "Although work in magnetic resonance imaging holds great promise, researchers can now watch areas of the brain light up as individuals carry out specific mental tasks. When we have that knowledge, we can pass it on to computers."

Motor vehicle production is one area where robotics automation is already being used. Yet imagine a world where we can read, have a glass of wine, talk freely on our cell phones or take a nap while our personal automobile drives itself from our workplace to our doorstep. Or perhaps we'll abandon the wheeled prototypes altogether and kick back in our personal flying car like numerous science fiction films predict. So how far are we from such a future?

Well, in 2007, the US Defense Advanced Research Project Agency had 83 robotic system vehicles driving through a 60-mile urban course, navigating around other vehicles, pedestrians and obstacles; all without incident. Just three years ago, robotic vehicles couldn't even drive straight across the wide-open desert without crashing. "The robotics industry is developing in much the same way the computer business did thirty years ago," Microsoft founder Bill Gates observed.

So what is in store for the future of robotics in the workplace? The US military is one of the biggest donators to robotic research, as they hope to replace human lives with robotics automation, reducing our casualties in war. Robots are already completing reconnaissance missions, disassembling explosives and firing on enemy combatants.

Military chiefs are aiming to make a third of all ground vehicles driver-less by 2015. Researchers are also looking at robots similar to those featured in Isaac Asimov's "I Robot" that cooperate together in a swarm-like way to complete complex tasks. Just the size of a small bug, these insect swarms look unassuming but are capable of jamming communication lines, gathering intelligence and firing at enemy combatants.

The future of robotics is taking aim at the rapidly aging population, with the end goal of providing for the elderly in places like the US which will see 97 million baby boomers in need of care or in Japan, where 22% of the population is over 65. Currently $1 billion is spent each year researching how autonomous robots can care for the elderly. Secom's "My Spoon" robot, for instance, can feed disabled people by breaking up food into chewable morsels and spooning it into their mouths. "Paro," another Japanese invention, looks like a baby seal and responds to the affection of lonely elderly patients, while also monitoring their heart rate and health symptoms.


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In a time of a global down turn, everyone is looking to save money, now how can you save money at home and at work? Well, if you look after our computers they should last years, just take a look at your keyboard, turn it over and see the amount of crumbs and dust fall out. Now the frightening thought, what about the bacteria the keyboard holds? It is said that public toilets are cleaner than the average keyboard!

There are 3 main problems for computers that will cause them to malfunction or fail totally. If you can protect computers form these harmful elements, you will be saving yourself and your company money.

Dust, is one of the main hazards of standard computers, dust when it comes into contact with the hard drive, will corrupt and even erase valuable data stored on the hard drive if it penetrates the case and depending if your home or office computer is in venerable location, it could fail in days or weeks. So you can vacuum your computer area to make sure the majority of dust is removed from were the computer is located and you can even vacuum the computer.

Fluid - fluid can come in many forms from water in the home or office to cutting coolant on a factory floor, if this gets in to any electronic components, the electronic components just corrode, causing the computer hardware to fail or cost a lot of money in repair costs. For this you can put the computer out of reach of any fluid, by locating the computer in a remote are, however there are problems with this, you will have to extend the cabling network.

Operator abuse - this can be controlled at home, from unruly teenagers who download goodness knows what from the internet, but there have been cases were employees have brought in games from home to play on work computers during the night shift. As the night shift workers know the Management don't monitor them as much as the day shift.

The ultimate solution would be to house the computer and peripherals in a PC enclosure; this is a special steel case that provides a safe and protective environment for the computer, monitor and keyboard, so it does not matter if the area of work or home is dusty or if fluids are present, these enclosures are NEMA and IP rated. Meaning they have been tested in demanding conditions to provide the relevant dust and fluid protection. Cable entry is covered by special cable grommets that are even waterproof, so no dust will penetrate into the PC enclosure.

The units are normally supplied with special filtered fan units, these provide a positive air pressure inside the enclosure, and this allows hot air to leave the enclosure, whilst cleaned, filtered cool air is sucked into the enclosure, cooling the computer hardware.

As for general cleaning, the computer enclosures are normally powder coated so the exterior only needs a wipe over with a damp cloth to remove surface dust. This is the dust that will kill your computer.



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