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"Cyberspace is a metaphor that allows us to grasp this place where since about the time of the second world war we've increasingly done so many of the things that we think of as civilization."
- William Gibson

Master-Operator  
  Takes over the functions of many different household robots.  

"And by the way, has your home got an A. E. Master-operator?"

It hadn't. Pathis explained that a Master-operator was new this year, a stupendous advance in scientific engineering. It was designed to take over all the functions of housecleaning and cooking, without its owner having to lift a finger.

"Instead of running around all day, pushing half a dozen different buttons, with the Master-operator all you have to do is push one! A remarkable achievement!"

Technovelgy from Cost of Living, by Robert Sheckley.
Published by Galaxy in 1952
Additional resources -

Compare to the master machine from The Revolt of the Machines (1931) by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat).

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Cost of Living
  More Ideas and Technology by Robert Sheckley
  Tech news articles related to Cost of Living
  Tech news articles related to works by Robert Sheckley

Master-Operator-related news articles:
  - Can One Robot Do Many Tasks?

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