I have just read David Silversmith's take on the recent introduction to the world of TrueCompanion - the world's first sex robot doll.

Upon reading it, I had to cause to reflect on the wider state of humanity and its interaction with technology. Of course, new information technology in the form of mobile phones, personal computers, digital television, user friendly whiteware and the web have all enhanced and improved the quality of our lives.

But there is a downside too as we all know. The Internet has the ability to expose our lives to others within the global e-community in a way that no other information system has before. Mobile phones can be hacked into and private conversations do have the potential to be overheard in some cases. Personal computers can have random access memories all of their own. Digital television is there but only for those who can afford it (at least for the moment) and touch sensitive whiteware (like dishwashers) can break down just like their older, manual operated predecessors.

With robot technology, there are as many positives as negatives too. Positives include the ability for robots to speed up production processes within manufacturing but all so often this is at the expense of jobs. But robots may one day (very soon) become almost a domestic necessity in the same way that televisions, computers and whiteware are now. On the positive side, robot helpers could assist both older and disabled people (like myself) with domestic tasks that are often difficult to complete. Right now in fact, you can purchase (for approximately $200) small robotically engineered vacuum cleaners that go around the house.

As with all technology, though, we must be watchful. While a robot may now have the ability to verbally communicate, emote and think for itself, these devices will never suffice for real human contact. For those who live alone (and the numbers are increasing due to societal changes), a robot will never completely take the place of real interaction between human beings whether it be of a sexual or non-sexual nature. I even fear that some people will cast aside domestic animals like cats and dogs who have provided families and individuals with additional, non-judgemental companionship for millenia if robots are brought into the average home to assist with household tasks or provide  non-human companionship.

Already, there are problems emerging with technology seemingly supplanting human-to-human contact in a number of ways. For example, while dating and friendship websites are a useful tool for single or lonely people wishing to meet up, there is ancedotal evidence that some people are becoming hooked on them.Besides, as an average internet user, I have noticed that I tend to email people when I could, in fact, call them on the phone. Furthermore, I now undertake tasks that would have required a greater deal of human interaction in the past, such as banking or applying for a job, online. In doing so, I have noticed that in reading an email, I don't sometimes get the nuance of what the writer might be saying to me and nor do I feel confident that any CV or application letter I send will be received given that email inboxes can become full (but having said that, they can become lost in the ordinary post too).

No doubt many of you reading this will be feeling the same way about the negative ramifications of modern technology on human interaction.

It now seems that with the invention of TrueCompanion that the possiiblity for technology to compensate for real human intimacy could become commonplace and much sooner than we think. If this happens, then it will mark technology's final intrusion into the most personal aspect of our lives - our sexuality.

While I don't believe in the old sci-fi notion that robots will someday take over the world and destroy all humanity (at least before global warming does), we all have to think about how we use technology, especially when it comes to interacting with fellow human beings, whether it be family members, friends, lovers, neighbours, workmates or social group contacts. There is no better time to do this than now as this new decade will continue to throw up surprises in terms of what technology can do.

Thus we will have to decide for ourselves as to what we can best utilise technology for and as to what is best left for human interaction to take care of.