“Robbie” by Isaac Asimov is a short story set in 1998. When this story was written in 1965, the futuristic elements were extremely deep and you could see how the reader could agree with Asimov's interpretation of the future. His world is detailed, including news about manned missions to Mars, futuristic technology, a technological code of ethics or the “three laws of robotics,” and compelling personal relationships. However, Asimov did the opposite. Many elements of his world are still science fiction today, and while robots existed in 2010, Asimov's are far more advanced in some areas and far more lacking in others. While Asimov's world contained many compelling elements, it was ultimately flawed and suggests that predictions of humanity's future are not always accurate. Asimov's robots are silent, expensive, metal machines with glowing red eyes. They are employed as construction workers, assembly line workers and domestic workers. Robbie, protagonist Gloria's robot nanny, cost the family half of their income for a year. He gives Gloria quiet affection and attention while performing menial tasks for her parents. Robbie is also extremely agile, which helps him care for his owners' daughter. It would appear that although Robbie is a bit unsightly, he performs everyday functions (except speaking) with relative ease. This, however, is not the case in 2010. In 2010, robots are very different from the expectations set in 1965. “The latest technological advances have led to robots that closely resemble humans but are mostly capable of performing only limited functions.” (Bar-Cohen 12). Yoseph Bar-Cohen and David Hanson's book "The Coming Robot Revolution" is very clear at... mid-newspaper... day. South Korea has set an official goal of having a robot in every home by 2013, and the Japan Robot Association predicts that the personal robot industry will be worth about $50 billion a year worldwide (Bar-Cohen 162). Only time will tell if these predictions are correct. For now, however, the nonexistence of gyroscopes, robot nannies, and visavox should caution humanity against being more conservative in predicting the future, at least until 1965 science fiction finally becomes complete scientific fact. Works Cited Bar-Cohen, Yoseph, and David Hanson. The coming robot revolution: Expectations and fears about the emergence of intelligent, human-like machines. New York: Springer, 2009. Print.De, Camp L. Sprague, and Camp Catherine Crook De. Tales beyond time; from fantasy to science fiction. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1973. Print.