The rise of the robots or Not?

The race towards bringing robotic flying things hasn't slowed down. The effort to reduce the art of electronics and power consumption to a minimal size has often not shown the commercial uptake it deserves. At least from the skills-basis standpoint. It takes a pretty special bunch of individuals to be able to work in a world of the minuscule.

The question I guess is more from the intent of the technology. Do you remember the Kodak camera that you could find at any tourist store? At the time, it was brilliant technology with a commercial uptake, but not sustainable for the needs of the future tourist. That technology had to die and die hard. On the other hand, there's aluminium/cast iron pot in the dusty streets of some West African countries, is still made in the same way 30+ years after that technology was conceived.

So what makes technology have a staying factor?

In the case of microrobots and any new technologies that are on the horizon (like our interest in 3dprinted drones for the purpose of low-cost operations), what should drive whether the technology remains relevant is, (1) whether it was conceived to truly benefit the lowest common beneficiary in the society, (2) whether it's building blocks are easily replaceable with other technologies which are bound to improve.

So, just like microrobots (like the one in the picture), one should ask those two questions in order to truly impact society well-beyond your conceived idea. For that is what social engineering is all about, after all.

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