"Robots Taking Over The Job On Offshore Oil Drilling Platforms"

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071221230852.htm

Honda's ASIMO

""By the end of 2010s, we'd like to see these robots working at every street corner of the city," said Tomohiko Kawanabe of Honda's Fundamental Technology Research Center."
http://www.physorg.com/news116585107.html

"Toyota Motor Corp said on Thursday it aims to put its humanoid and other advanced robots to practical use soon after 2010 to help people in factories, hospitals, homes and around town.
Unveiling two new robots called the "mobility robot" and the "violin-playing robot", Japan's top automaker said it would step up research and development in the field, including by doubling the number of engineers to about 200 in around three years.
It will also build a research facility dedicated to robot technology on the site of one of its domestic factories next year, President Katsuaki Watanabe said.
Researchers in Japan, including from academia and companies such as rival Honda Motor Co, are racing to build robots smart enough to serve the needs of the elderly."

"Toyota aims to make the robotics field one of its core businesses by 2020."

"Toyota plans to further advance the robot's dexterity and flexibility to enable it to use tools and assist with domestic chores and nursing and medical care."


http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7131285

http://www.designnews.com/article/CA6490691.html

"Second Life: A Virtual Universe for Real Engineering
By applying SL building tools, engineers are facilitating a paradigm shift in computer-aided design"

"Before travelers arrive at the airport, they can utilize Silver Diner?s online ordering system. This allows them to place their orders before they begin their journey and pick up breakfast, lunch or dinner on their way through the terminal. Patrons at Silver Diner?s new BWI location may also place their order via an electronic kiosk, housed within the restaurant.

?We are working on plans to provide another off-premise electronic kiosk within the Southwest A/B Terminal at BWI, further ensuring that people in the airport can conveniently order a high-quality Silver Diner meal,? noted Giaimo.

Inside the restaurant, passengers preparing to depart from the airport can keep track of updated flight information on Silver Diner?s electronic flight display board. The restaurant staff is also utilizing KDS technology, which times each customer?s order individually to ensure ten-minute service. Servers will be armed with portable electronic keypads that will communicate a table?s order directly to the kitchen. Inside the kitchen, cooks can view the orders via a color-coded system, all displayed on LED monitors."

http://www.amazon.com/Business-2010-Mapping-Commercial-Landscape/dp/1844390004
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/TECH/05/12/visionary.pearson/

""de-skilling" of many professions, such as medicine, law, and management. All these tasks can be done more cheaply and reliably by software."

Google phone around April 2008;

"The "Shabette Hon-yaku" automatic translation capability using a voice recognition system has also been added to the 905i series handsets. If you speak a phrase that you want translated while talking on the phone, a translation will be displayed on the screen after a few seconds. The 905i handsets support translation from Japanese to English and from English to Japanese."

http://pspupdates.qj.net/Hands-on-Sony-PSP-Talkman-Translate-Speak-Learn-English-Japanese-Chinese-Korean/pg/49/aid/8676

"Windows Vista Chinese and English synthesizer, Lili"