There are some ripples of excitement in the media about a forthcoming technological leap available to households: robotic butlers. There are plenty of ideas afloat, from SoftBank's Pepper robot to Zenbo, a conceptual robotic butler computer company Asus is working on.
Zenbo is distinct to me because I saw a promotional video about the robot first, before I was aware of any other such prototype. The video, available on YouTube, has garnered a smattering of mainstream criticism, mostly from business media. 
Why, you ask? Because the promo is so cheesy, I guarantee that if you sit through more than a minute of it, you will be mortified to the point of physically cringing.
Cheesiness of the promotional efforts, and childhood nightmares about that robot from The Jetsons, with her evil, leering scarlet eyes and creepy guillotine-like mouth notwithstanding, the concept of a digital butler is pretty intriguing to me. The robot depicted is shown to be able to recite recipes, provide alarms and reminders, play all kinds of media to keep people entertained, respond to simple commands and even detect if someone is hurt.
If Zenbo is anything like Asus claims it will be, it'll be an ideal domestic sidekick. I have high hopes, since Asus is the company that manufactured most of the parts with which I built my computer, and the old rig is still running strong. 
In spite of how cheesy the promotional efforts are, and how far back from being a real tangible product, available for purchase, Zenbo is, I for one, already have an assortment of plans for a robotic butler.
After considering the limits of a small rolling robot, I have determined there are a whole bunch of tiresome, demeaning and sometimes downright awful tasks that a robo-butler could feasibly perform. They include the following:
Cleaning the Clippings:I don't know how many times I've clipped my finger (and toe)nails, only to have some of the resulting keratinous scraps slip out of reach of my broom, under the vanity in my bathroom. "Oh, Zenbo," I would hail, "Please do something about those unsightly clippings."
Perfunctory Peelings:Once Zenbo finishes up with the rather distasteful task of disposing of probably months' worth of my nail clippings, he'd be led to the kitchen, whereupon he'd perform a similar task, gathering up the assortment of crumbs, nuts, and dried chunks of vegetable peelings that have undoubtedly accumulated under the fridge.
Food Prep:I imagine the technology Zenbo is built from may put some limits on how much the little two-foot tall robot is capable of in the kitchen. But, would it be too much to ask that he cut the occasional complement of vegetables...and boil them, and maybe put some of the chicken I have in my freezer into the oven, set the table, and afterward, wash the dishes, too? 
That seems right within its purview. Oh, and while Zenbo's at it, the little robot might as well brew me up a coffee, too. All this planning and delegation of responsibility – what a doozy!
Make my bed:I’ll be frank: I basically never do that, unless I’m changing the sheets. Not much more to say. That would actually genuinely be a great help.
Check my personal email:Unless it's a missive from a friend or family member that requires some input (and effort) on my part, in the way of a response, I imagine most of that would be pretty easy to automate.
Actually, hell with it, just go and live my life for me, for a while, Zenbo. 
My entirely reasonable expectation is that it would take a few months for Zenbo's software and firmware updates to get it up to a higher level of proficiency. You know, the level at which it could perform, more or less, the rest of the duties and tasks my life entails so I’d have more time to relax on my deck with a beer and a book.
Within reason I could probably get the robot to start paying my bills, doing my taxes, and washing my car.
Maybe when Asus programs fine-tuned motor skills into an update, Zenbo could start buying my groceries, brushing my teeth, writing a couple of stories on the side for me, and maybe working out at the gym on my behalf, whenever I'm feeling really indolent. 
The possibilities are truly endless.
