Groundhog Day --the future resurfaces regularly.  The UK media just discovered the granny pod, four years after a similar granny cottage concept appeared, And this new discovery comes three years after AARP discovered MedCottage, which AARP described as a portable alternative to nursing homes (seriously, folks?). Ditto on companion robots (including the ever-popular Paro) from the same UK article. Can you believe it? Companion robots are just around the corner, and the future is just ahead. Says the Financial Times writer: "People are living longer and the result, according to the UN, is that there will be two billion people aged over 60 worldwide by 2050."  Let’s see, doth a projection 37 years from now a market make? Even if you buy that being over 60 constitutes a candidate customer for a MedCottage or companion robot (seriously?), it must be just too hard to find a number of how many would benefit today. That’s because caregiving robots of today are still in the experimental stage (even though nurses may prefer them to people). >>> Read more . . .

Should we entrust the care of people in their 70s and older to artificial assistants rather than doing it ourselves?

Health care costs are skyrocketing. Robots could help address both costs and manpower issues.

Five years out? Maybe longer.

Don't hold your breath on personal care robots.

More on how service robots will be in the home -- eventually.

Maybe not soon.

While the technological capabilities have been in place since 2003, the market has not embraced the idea of eldercare robots.

Asking people who don't need assistance now, the answer is yes, unless the tasks involve personal care or social activities.

Okay -- we have robots, dropping in price, that can deal blackjack hands.  Maybe fold laundry and table napkins in senior housing?