Toshiba’s ApriPoco
Toshiba has developed a prototype robot that is essentially a universal remote for your home. The ApriPoco, loose translation means little by little, is approx. 8.4 inches tall with big round eyes and torso, giving it a child like demeanor. This is intentional due to the pace at which it learns commands.
The idea behind this robot, which is equipped with sensors that detect infrared signals, is you use a remote to turn on something, your TV for example, and the ApriPoco simply asks with its child like voice, “What did you do now?” You would then tell the robot, “Turned on the TV”. With it’s soon to be built in voice-recognition system, the robot would remember the user’s answer and the infrared signal and link the two together.
Turning on the TV is not the only thing it will be able to do for you either. It will be able to do anything an infrared remote can, but in a more personal way, since you are its teacher. Giving the robot a child like appearance has proved to work well in trials, especially with older users. “The ApriPoco is believed to be useful for elderly people who tend to shun the complicated functions of household electronics,” said Toshiba.
Toshiba hopes to develop the robot for a commercial launch but does not have a release date yet.
