Description: The article discusses the use of R in prototyping automation procedures. It offers general pros and cons for R and walks through a specific use case, which involves scraping and summarizing data stored in Microsoft Excel.

Description: The barrier between humans and machines continues to blur, but curiously, this may have been prediction thousands of years ago in ancient myths. This article looks to how some of the early legends are becoming manifest in modern technology, particularly in the area of elder care. From automation, to humanoid assistants, to mind clones will the age of technology bring a new utopia?