Despite its ungainly appearance, Honda’s UniBall turned out to be more comfortable than Askatla had imagined. The trio of spherical wheels, with their honeycomb textured tread, provided a smooth ride and precision movement in any direction while still maintaining stability at higher speeds or when reversing. After a quick test in the lobby to familiarise herself with the hands-free controls, she manoeuvred through the monotonous maze of blank blanc walls, colourless ceilings with embedded soft tone lights, and tiled floors just grey enough to not look filthy the first time someone walked or rolled over them.

The grumblings she heard…