Botworld
[Watch the Autom video at Intuitive Automata.]
This is Autom, a robot fitness coach.
To be honest, it’s doing something very simple. It asks you your weight, whether you’ve done exercise, that kind of thing. And it gives you hints and a fitness plan. Really, it’s just a fitness coach.
What it does could be done just as easily with an iPhone app.
But the scientists behind Autom have found that putting the touch screen in the belly of a little, cute robot makes it more engaging. People using Autom are more effective with their dieting than people who aren’t. There’s a little bit of the interface where it asks you whether you’re going to come back tomorrow. If it was a phone, whatever. But a little robot with a mind of its own? You’ll keep your promises!
It’s hard to say “no” to those big blue eyes.
I have to be frank. This freaks me out. But, you know, give it time and a few design iterations.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen simple robotics — we’ve seen research scientists in Japan make concept robots for ages. And there’s really no artificial intelligence going on here at all. The trick is just putting a face on it.
But it works, right. It’s not university research, and it’s not a toy. It’s such a trivial thing – helping people diet – so it’s a sign that people are becoming ready to relate to everyday products in this new kind of way.