The Gadget Guy

Daleks are heading for the deli counter. But do we really want our shopping experiences dehumanised?

Kiva Systems robots working to fill orders in one of Amazon’s biggest warehouses
Kiva Systems robots working to fill orders in one of Amazon’s biggest warehouses

Daleks are coming to a store near you. Well, not Daleks, but if retailers follow the example of a forward-thinking hardware store in San Jose, something resembling the infamous robotic exterminators – though hopefully less aggressive.

The star employee at Lowe’s Hardware Store, Oshbot, is around five feet high. He greets the customer in English or Spanish and, like any good employee, ...