Expected to be ready for sales in 2017 is Kuri, a friendly robot for your home. Mayfield Robotics designed Kuri as a source of home entertainment and surveillance. The problem the company was trying to solve was the lack of personality in other home robotics like Amazon’s Alexa. Kuri stands out from other gadgets because it is on wheels, making it able to follow users around their home, and it has personality. The evidence used is in the software like the 1080p camera, four-microphone array, dual speakers, WIFI and Bluetooth connectivity, etc. The software Mayfield uses is present in other devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home. This evidence is analyzed when the Kuri robot was presented at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and will be further analyzed when it is available to consumers in December 2017.
The argument being made in the article is that Kuri is special because it incorporates technology that sets it aside from other home robots. Unlike others, Kuri does not talk nor does it change colors, instead it makes beeping sounds and head movements to respond to voice recognition. For someone who has never used or even considered home robots, Kuri does not sound rather convincing. The article talks about how the software in Kuri is similar to other devices but it’s ability to recognize human interactions is better, which does not completely make sense. The analysis is missing a clear differentiation between Kuri and other robots, perhaps the use of specific software pieces.
According to Lee Manovich’s new media principles, Kuri uses automation. Kuri uses “high level” automation, which Manovich says, “requires a computer to understand, to a certain degree, the meanings embedded in the objects being generated, that is, their semantics (pg. 32-33).” Kuri demonstrates automation through its stimulation of human conversation. Kuri listens to what it is asked to do and responds through beeping and facial expressions, resulting in human interaction.
1. In your opinion, are home robots necessary when we already have smart devices and camera alarm systems?
2. The Kuri was created to add personality to home robots, was Mayfield Robotics successfully based on the article?
I enjoyed reading your article! I’d say home robots are necessary only to people who think it is! Sure Kuri offers many “unbearable” must-buy characteristics such as home surveillance and entertainment, but for me I don’t think it’s necessary. Maybe if I was an only child and did not want a pet, I guess I’d opt for Kuri, haha! The price tag is another thing to consider, would the average consumer really be okay with spending roughly $700 for a home robot? I know I’m not.
Kuri is definitely a very interesting robot in the sense that she doesn’t talk. I wouldn’t say that robot’s are necessary in the in the home but they are a good source of entertainment and company and can even metaphorically lend a helping hand. I was curious so I ended up looking up a video on Kuri and she does have personality which the founders of the company were looking to accomplish in making Kuri. But as William mentioned in his comment the price for Kuri is a little much considering she does have a lot of competition in the market and she cannot talk. But overall I think Kuri is super adorable.