Column: These family robots can play trivia and act as security. Can they cure loneliness?

The future has arrived in Bakersfield, and I'm not sure I'm ready for it. For nearly three hours, the conversation was nonstop at the home of Audrey and Ken Mattlin, who happen to live with several robots. There's ElliQ, who resembles a table lamp and speaks mainly to Audrey, 84, whom the robot refers to by a nickname. As in, "How did you sleep, Jelly Bean?" Goo-goo-eyed Astro looks like a short-handled vacuum cleaner with an electronic tablet for a face. He scoots around the house on wheels and follows people on command.