In Issac Asimov’s Robot series of science-fiction novels, a recurring theme through out the books are the fictional three laws of robotics

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry has drafted a document entitled “Draft Guidelines To Secure The Safe Performance of Next Generation Robots”, which is focused on convincing the Japanese government to convene a group of industrialists, academics, lawyers, and ministry officials, to produce stricter laws over the development of advanced robotics.

The document is drafted with the hopes of limiting the risks to humans in future world where robots are depended upon for many daily activities. The guidelines would include a limitation that all robots be installed with logging systems to document any injury they’ve caused to a human. — Andrew Dobrow

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The Japanese government has awarded this years Robot Award to Paro, the “Grandma soothing” robotic seal! This fuzzy robot was created to help calm the elderly as they sit and rot in their nursing homes. Paro allows us to get those damn geezers out of our hair for a while until they realize it’s not actually a real seal, but a robotic distraction ambush. Eventually, Japanese robotic specialist hope to have a fully automated caring system for the elderly. If anybody knows about needing more room, it’s the Japanese with their clogged cities.

Besides old people, Paro has been used with autistic and disabled children. Everyone that they want out of their hair gets to play with the little fuzz ball. They now all get to love and stroke a realistic baby seal, without the horrifying stench. Yeah…that’s the way to instill a sense of reality in our elderly and mentally handicapped. — Andrew Dobrow

Robotic baby seal wins top award [BBC, via Slashdot]