Anthropomorphic machines and the practice of nursing: knowing persons as whole in the moment

Anthropomorphic machines are embodied mechanical entities interacting with humans. This paper describes the relationship between robotics, nursing, persons as whole in the moment, and technological competency as nursing. Natural language processing and semantic interpretation are described. Critical to the relationship between the nurse and nursed is the practice of \´knowing person\´ through technological competency as caring in nursing. Are anthropomorphic machines whole human beings? Is partiality a crucial factor in determining the distinction of what or who is human? It is commonly understood from a clinical sense that a person thinks, is sensual, evocative, and an emotive human being. What happens when the human does not resemble the "normal" human being? As human beings are susceptible to emotive, evocative beings who have the predilection to relate well with others, the understanding of the anthropomorphic machine, and of technological competency as nursing practice is timely and significant.