In the not too distant future robots may play a role in the care of senior citizens. Researchers in the field of artificial intelce have long dreamed of creating human-like intelce in machines and empowering them to perceive their environment and take actions that solve problems. Robotics has been used for years in a variety of jobs across manufacturing and is even being employed to assist in surgical procedures. Given the growing numbers of seniors across the globe, a little help from our mechanical friends might ease the burden on caregivers and improve the quality of life for those cared for. How would you feel about interacting with a machine rather than a human being when it comes to addressing your daily activities? I admit my first reaction when thinking of a robot caring for me in my later years was not necessarily a positive one. Robots can be a bit scary. My perspective is the result of many years as a science fiction buff(爱好者), and the robot was not always such a nice guy. More often than not, the mechanical man somehow caused a variety of problems for the humans it interacted with. But not all robots are bad. Some are being deployed(部署) to offer assistance living at home. Smart Homes, a company based in the Netherlands, has designed a program to help seniors live independently. A helpful robot named Hector that resembles a big walking and talking smartphone provides reminders for everyday tasks such as taking medications, returning phone calls and compiling(编辑) grocery lists. In addition, Hector can detect falls and respond to verbal commands. A big part of the future success of robots will be their acceptance by the humans under their care. According to Ruth Campbell, a geriatric(老年医学的) social worker at the University of Tokyo, many elderly people see robots as impractical for the tasks they need help with including bathing and dressing. Adding complicated technology that requires training and even supervision is not going to make interacting with a robot very attractive.