New Zealand and Korean scientists have joined forces seeking to develop a robot that can perform some basic duties of a doctor.  The three year project should result in a doctor bot fit for a king.  Or at least fit for the Science and Technology Minister of New Zealand.  Pete Hodgson, who currently holds that position, had his blood pressure taken by a robot and proclaimed it was “an exciting new era”.

Exciting, indeed.  Robot doctors may be able to measure blood pressure and other vital signs, assist fallen patients, deliver medication, and provide companionship to the sick.  The robots should be able to speak and recognize English that they may communicate sufficiently with patients.  We’ve already seen Heart’s care giving abilities, so it’s easy to imagine how the two technologies could merge to offer something similar to a human doctor.  Robotics will clearly play an important role in the field of medicine in the future.

While the next few years may see the advent of robot doctors, it will probably be a while before House is unseated by an automaton (but that would be a cool episode).  Will the cold, oil-soaked heart of a robot ever truly feel sympathy for a weak human patient?

[Stuff] VIA [Gizmo Watch]