Over the past few years, we have become accustomed to limited human contact. Online chats, Zoom meetings, remote work, quarantines, limits on opening hours and numbers of people allowed in public places are only some examples of how our lives have changed under new rules. One other example that caught my eye recently was my visit to a yakiniku restaurant in the neighborhood when over half of our orders were delivered by a robot instead of one of the waiting staff. I have seen automated sushi bars on many occasions, but this was a new experience of witnessing a robot meandering among people at work that wasn’t a part of an exhibition or a Japanese robotics show.
A.P.
