[Yaaarc] Microsoft plans to enter mobile robotics market

[Keith Mc. (Route-To YAR)]

I just received an email "teaser" for Robo Business 2006, entitled 
"Microsoft Enters Robotics Market – RoboBusiness 2006 - Latest News"

According to the Robo Business 2006 program, on Tue 6/20/06, at 11:15 AM 
there will be a General Session at Robo Biz (in PA), where Microsoft
General Manager Tandy Trower will announce Microsoft is entering 
the mobile robot biz in some way. (The "Microsoft & Robotics" session).

See:   http://www.robobusiness2006.com/rb2006_program_at_a_glance.htm

Now I don't know whether or not this is the outcome of the "announcement"
by Microsoft Research dept back at the 9/04 European Innovation Fair. 
They announced then that Microsoft Research was in the process of 
developing a "graphical programming language for robotics that is 
simple to teach, and allows people to control robots with a [Windows 
based] Smartphone".  

See: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2004/sep04/09-23MSRBrusselsInnovationFairPR.mspx

IOW, *IF* I'm piecing this together correctly, it sounds like just 
where Microsoft entered the home game industry with the X-box announcement, 
we may soon also see them attempting to enter the mobile robotics market.

I'm assuming they will be announcing some sort of a new "Microsoft 
branded (or spec'd) robot hardware, controlled by a Microsoft 
graphical robot language, via a Microsoft based Smartphone".

Comments?  Speculations?  Worries?

- Keith Mc.