Meet Jibo, the family robot
If any of the predictions for the future of technology is anything to go by, then we should have had hoverboards, and robots that would do everyday tasks like washing the dishes, walking the dog, and always have a witty reply.
Although the hoverboards are nowhere to be seen, we are getting closer to the robots. Roboticist Cynthis Breazeal has designed a product that is set to change the way we interact with technology. Christened Jibo, it is touted as the world’s first family robot.
It looks a lot like a static, albeit animated, lampshade, and has a glowing orb-like face. Jibo is created to perform simple tasks like capturing videos, relaying messages, and switching lights on and off. The creators want to let in developers from outside create interface apps for Jibo. While, there is nothing special about the promised functionality, but if the interface works as the advertisements claim, it will lead to something extraordinary. Surprisingly, Jibo comes without any of the conventional buttons, swipes, or commands that usually follow artificial intelligence; you have to talk to it as you would to any other person.
It is called a family robot because it can remember the face of every person in the house and provide information that is meant only for them. It can also read out stories to children, complete with swivelling movements. Its various algorithms help it to learn and adapt to the needs of various members of the family. And it is downright adorable.
Jibo comes with a black glass “face” that lights up with a circular icon that is an eye and a mouth, and is ridiculously cute. The body has sensors that are able to pick up your touch and it reacts accordingly. For example, it displays a large heart on the screen when you caress it lovingly.
According to the creators, Jibo is the first in a new class of family robots that will humanize a whole range of technology and information and help families address fundamental human needs that require high-touch engagement for best human outcomes like education, independent aging, and health services right from their homes.
In order to encourage outside developers, the creators will release a toolkit that will help them to come up with more fun and useful things to do for the 1-inch robot.
In order to raise money, a campaign has been launched on Indiegogo that has been well received by people. You can order a home or developer edition Jibo for $749 from their site www.jibo.com.
Jibo comes with a promise of letting us experience technology in a very natural way and such an interface will be engaging and enjoyable to use, definitely better than Her. We need a more natural way of dealing with consumer appliances and simplify the mess of various competing interfaces in our homes.
However, the impact that Jibo will have will be solely dependent on how well it handles the complexities of human communication and the subtleties of human interaction.
This article was first published on The Hindu and is available at http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/meet-jibo-the-family-robot/article7499415.ece