“I grew up with Star Wars in the 1970s, dreaming of robots that could interact with us as helpful companions,” says MIT professor Cynthia Breazeal. And after spending the past decade researching social robots at the MIT Media Lab, Breazeal is making that dream a reality. Meet Jibo: an 11-by-6-inch household companion that can shoot photos and video, announce reminders and learn users’ habits to better assist them with daily tasks.
Jibo will be able to gain even more skills through app purchases, but seemingly human features that take him past the point of a souped-up Siri come standard. “Jibo can see and hear you. He can recognize you by face and voice. He’s got a fun personality,” says Breazeal, founder and chief scientist of the Boston-based Jibo, Inc. “He can move in a fun and expressive way, but also a useful way to be able to turn and orient to you. He’s a shared family robot, but can interact with each member of the family in a personalized way.” Jibo can read kids bedtime stories and shoot silly pictures (a favorite feature of Breazeal’s 8-year-old son), while adults can use him to help with a recipe and capture the fun of a party when they’re busy hosting.
Breazeal says the family-friendly functionality is important since the last thing any parent or child needs is another screen to huddle over. “Technology should provide utility and value without detracting and pulling attention away from the family experience,” she says. “When I’m home, I don’t want my attention to be sucked into looking at my computer or smartphone. Jibo is a social robot. Interacting with Jibo supports face-to-face interaction with everyone in the room.” Early crowdfunding supporters who pledged $499-$749 for the first robots are still waiting for that interaction, but updated delivery times will be announced by April’s end—and there’s a wait list for the next batch. “I envision a future where there is a Jibo in every home, who makes a useful and meaningful contribution to people’s lives while also putting a smile on their face,” Breazeal says. “I want Jibo to win people’s hearts and minds.”
Imagine That
By Meghan Kavanaugh & Improper Staff April 22, 2016
Social Engineering
“I grew up with Star Wars in the 1970s, dreaming of robots that could interact with us as helpful companions,” says MIT professor Cynthia Breazeal. And after spending the past decade researching social robots at the MIT Media Lab, Breazeal is making that dream a reality. Meet Jibo: an 11-by-6-inch household companion that can shoot photos and video, announce reminders and learn users’ habits to better assist them with daily tasks.
Jibo will be able to gain even more skills through app purchases, but seemingly human features that take him past the point of a souped-up Siri come standard. “Jibo can see and hear you. He can recognize you by face and voice. He’s got a fun personality,” says Breazeal, founder and chief scientist of the Boston-based Jibo, Inc. “He can move in a fun and expressive way, but also a useful way to be able to turn and orient to you. He’s a shared family robot, but can interact with each member of the family in a personalized way.” Jibo can read kids bedtime stories and shoot silly pictures (a favorite feature of Breazeal’s 8-year-old son), while adults can use him to help with a recipe and capture the fun of a party when they’re busy hosting.
Breazeal says the family-friendly functionality is important since the last thing any parent or child needs is another screen to huddle over. “Technology should provide utility and value without detracting and pulling attention away from the family experience,” she says. “When I’m home, I don’t want my attention to be sucked into looking at my computer or smartphone. Jibo is a social robot. Interacting with Jibo supports face-to-face interaction with everyone in the room.” Early crowdfunding supporters who pledged $499-$749 for the first robots are still waiting for that interaction, but updated delivery times will be announced by April’s end—and there’s a wait list for the next batch. “I envision a future where there is a Jibo in every home, who makes a useful and meaningful contribution to people’s lives while also putting a smile on their face,” Breazeal says. “I want Jibo to win people’s hearts and minds.”
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