[visarga]

> Once we enter an era where every person is effectively coddled by multiple robotic "slaves" that do their every whim

We're already there. Cars, computers and all sorts of machines serve our every whim - at least compared to a few hundred years ago. Our modern day affordances are simply amazing.

For example, the Empress Sissi of Habsburg was the first person in Vienna to have a water toilet, 150 years ago. It was considered an eccentricity. Now, even the poorest people have access to WC. (https://ro.pinterest.com/pin/452822937508014749/)

[gm-conspiracy]

I recommend this documentary (was on Netflix):

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2274520/

The Toilet: An Unspoken History

[adrianN]

Access to WCs is actually still a big problem in India.

[majewsky]

Correct, but not in Austria, which was grandparent's point.