Women's Issues
MidLife Women - The Robots In Our Lives
By Ellen Besso, Life Coach for MidLife Women
Jul 9, 2008

Did you know that when we’re old our kids, doctors, pharmacist, grocery delivery guy, etc., etc. may be able to watch us in our home? It’s true, with the robots that are being tested now, amazing things can happen by the time we’re old.

Not only will the robots be able to clean our houses and prepare food, but they will be able to alert the above mentioned group of people (should we agree to this) if we don’t answer our phones. Our remote ‘caregiver team’ will be able to interact with the robots and give them directions, such as reading our vital signs and reporting them back to the caregiver.

Does this sound surreal? Does it seem like Huxley’s 1984? Well it’s true. I knew the robots were coming, but hadn’t heard about these new developments until today (On my 5 pm news, CIVT, Channel 9 Vancouver, BC).

This sounds positive in many ways, because elders will be able to live independently longer and be safe. Many seniors are ‘borderline safe’ or unsafe nowadays living alone; my mom was borderline before she went into care. But how about our privacy? Will the robotized computer cameras be able to watch us in our beds and in the bathroom? (the pic shown on the news showed a visual of a man lying on the floor).

I guess the kinks will have to be worked out on this as time goes on. Let me know what you think and share with us all what you know about this please.