The little people seem to be everywhere, revolting little blobs. We're going to have to find a solution to our infestation problem, because treading on them is no longer a viable solution, as they stink quite fiercely. They reproduce quickly, and a single pair can overrun an entire household in just a few years - this is a real problem.
We have had some luck testing new drugs and medical procedures on them, but their physiology is quite a bit removed from ours, so their usefulness in that arena will still be fairly limited.
The possibilities of the little creatures are unlocked through my field of study: robotics.
We have been developing man-size contraptions that are able to be controlled by multitudes of the creatures, each one with a specific job which they are trained to do (training is a long process, because the creatures are very stupid, but we believe that they can understand enough to operate simple machinery). Although the contraptions are very crude right now, I envision a future where we are at our lesure to invent and create - our heart's delight - without the need to waste time on menial labor. The small people will be conscripted to work within the bowels of the useful machines that will harvest wood, tend farms, and do all sorts of tasks that will soon be beneath us. Our inventions will bring about a new era - an astounding explosion of art and innovation, simply because we will no longer labor for our survival. Isn't that a wonderful thought?
_______________
We have been working to fashion some sort of ridged, synthetic exoskeleton for the tiny creatures, not only so that their globulous appearances might not cause onlookers to shudder, but also to allow them to work within the machinery of our robots without bodily damage. When ones body is gelatinous, it is difficult to operate machinery without some sort of protection. Even with recent design changes, the turnover in the robots is extremely high, simply because the creatures are not very resilient, and damage easily. Occasionally the expiration of a worker is met with a fierce, primal reaction for the other members aboard the robot. It is dangerous at times, but I must say that it is beautiful to see how nature has a fierce regard for its own, and will require special handling if we are to proceed safely. Man has encountered difficulties such as these with any revolutionary advancements, and I feel confident that we will find a solution that minimizes the amount of bodily damage, and creates a much more resilient, hearty worker.
________________
The exoskeletons are working as planned. We've been making adjustments to them for over six months now, and I've been so consumed with the intricacies of this new problem at work that I've not touched my journal until I dusted it off today. I've been working with several creatures as I develop the protective exoskeletons, and I must say that they have a great deal more intelligence than at first I thought. True, they speak in tones that have no more meaning than the roar of any other beast, but at times they've demonstrated that they have the capacity for primitive reasoning. They seem to have imprinted on me - they react when I come near as if I am a familiar presence. It's fairly distressing how human they can appear, especially when we are forced to run various tests on the little things, but I'm told that any attachment I feel is normal, and it will pass with time. It's silly, maybe I'm a little lonely - it's been quite a while since I've had someone in my life, maybe this new soft streak indicates that I need companionship. I'm considering a dog.
