The robot babysitter, made by Microsoft

Sounds like The Jetsons, but it isn't. Microsoft is taking a shot at every possible market out there, and robotics couldn't have been overlooked as a growing and enormous potential market for this decade.

What to the untrained eye might look like an ordinary teddy bear is in fact a complex robot enabled with face recognition features which could also allow a parent to talk to the child through a special phone and monitor via a camera and a wireless Internet connection.

However, how confusing is that for the child and try to explain that the Chucky series and the Microsoft robot are two things completely different. And this is still not a serious problem. Try to imagine how to explain to a child that his babysitter has bad periods, such as blue screens or is generating messages like "Please update the driver for affection?"

The plush prototype, on display at Microsoft Corp.'s annual gadget showcase Wednesday, is one of several ideas researchers have for robots.

The idea is to create a virtual being that can visit the neighboring cubicle for a live telephone chat even as its owner is traveling thousands of miles away, or let the plumber into the house while its owner enjoys a pleasant afternoon in the sun.

The "Teddy" project was one of about 150 projects on display at Microsoft's TechFest, a two-day event that gives Microsoft's worldwide team of researchers the chance to show product developers their sometimes far-flung creations, and perhaps find a fit for the projects in a future, marketable product.

Plenty of companies are already building robots for the work place, and toy companies have created plush dolls that know a child's name or can incorporate other personal information.