Dél Koreában a sci-fi valósággá válik

SOUTH KOREA, the world's most wired country, is rushing to turn what sounds like science fiction into everyday life. The Government, which has succeeded in getting broadband internet into 72 per cent of all households in the past five years, has marshalled an army of scientists and business leaders to make robots full members of society.

By next year, networked robots that relay messages to parents, teach children English and sing and dance for them when they get bored are scheduled to enter mass production. Outside the home they are expected to guide customers at post offices, or patrol public areas, searching for intruders and transmitting images to monitoring centres.

If all goes according to plan, robots will be in every South Korean household between 2015 and 2020. That is the prediction, at least, of the Ministry of Information and Communication, which has grouped more than 30 companies, as well as 1000 scientists from universities and research institutes, under its wing. Some scientists want to move even faster.

"My personal goal is to put a robot in every home by 2010," said Oh Sang-rok, manager of the ministry's intelligent service robot project.

Reeling from the Asian financial crisis of 1997, South Korea decided that becoming a high-tech nation was the only way to secure its future.

While other countries had focused on developing military, industrial, or humanoid robots, Mr Oh said, South Korea decided three years ago to develop service robots that, instead of operating independently, derive their intelligence from being part of a network.

Late last year three types of robots were distributed to 64 randomly selected households, as well as two post offices. In October a second phase in the testing will put robots in 650 households and 20 public places.

By next year the networked robots are expected to be on the market. Yujin Robot started developing prototypes in 2004 and has sold 100, mostly to universities and research institutes.

It is the leader in making small $A700 robots that move around the house using sensors, vacuuming or sweeping. They have become popular gifts for newlyweds.

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