What People See in Robot Faces

A reminder of work we did using brand equity to represent assistants on the Web.   We assumed that a well known ad character would an ideal way to engage, with an otherwise chatbot-style interaction. This could have been good input to the project.  Much more at the links below.   Be glad to chat.

What People See in 157 Robot Faces 
in IEEE Spectrum   By Evan Ackerman

University of Washington in Seattle researchers conducted a study of robot faces--157 in all--across 76 dimensions, to determine the distinct ways people experience them. Among the study's insights was that robots whose faces were rated less-friendly lacked a mouth and pupils, but had eyelids; eyebrows also were deemed to be indicators of intelligence. Although no robot faces were rated as significantly more likable than the baseline face, the robot that possessed irises was the most liked by survey participants overall. "I think our work helps to elucidate what kind of effect certain design choices have, and while these results are by no means definitive, I think they do help prime our thinking about design consequences," says the University of Washington's Alisa Kalegina. The work was presented in March at the ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human Robot Interaction (HRI 2018) in Chicago, IL.  ... " 

Softbank Pepper Sales Robot

A relook at the SoftBank humanoid Pepper robot.   Seems the test they mention that showed increases in sales is far too short, and could have largely been driven by publicized novelty.   In Recode:

SoftBank’s humanoid robot Pepper is improving sales at brick-and-mortar stores
Turns out people like to shop with robots.    By April Glaser

SoftBank, the Japanese company recently in the news for a meeting between its CEO and Donald Trump and its promise to invest $50 billion into U.S. tech companies, has been working to bring its humanoid robot Pepper to American markets for the past year.

And after launching a few pilots with Pepper helping customers in California retail stores in 2016, SoftBank says the robot actually pays off.

In one pilot at B8ta, a tech retail shop in Palo Alto where Pepper worked customer service for a week-long stint last August, SoftBank says the store clocked a 70 percent increase in foot traffic. At another pilot at a B8ta in Santa Monica in December, the store reported a 13 percent increase in revenue and a six-fold increase in sales of a featured product, according to SoftBank. ... "

SoftBank says there are already over 10,000 Pepper robots in use around the world, including at a Pizza Hut in Singapore, on cruise ships and even in homes across Japan. ....  " 

List of personal assistants examined

Should we Create Humanlike Robots

In IEEE Spectrum:  Sure, we will do it, and are doing it, if only for their capability of getting attention.  But will there be actual value in mimicking ourselves?   Or danger?  Reminds me of the 'Media Equation', which we aimed to use to create engagement.   Now new Chatbots are here again, looking for human leverage.

Pushing Humanoid Robotics

Why do robots have to be humanoid?  Look somewhat like humans. Androids, they are also called. To make us more comfortable with their planned presence among us?   Or is this a bow to biomimicry, suggesting that androids are the most efficient design to do what humans do

Another Example of IFTTT Automation

In Engadget: An example of how the IFTTT automation method is used and shared.  " ... IFTTT's automation app can watch your Android phone's battery  ... ". .  Based on the addition of a battery channel as data.   See the method described at the tag below.

(Update)   New capabilities announced.  http://ift.tt/blog_newdo 

Tesco Tries in Aisle Rolling Robotics

In CWorld: Six foot tall robots, not really human-like android, more like large vacuum cleaners.  Possibly scaring the Tesco shoppers?  At least this could open shoppers to the expectation of having roving robotics in the aisles.    Vendor is RFSpot.

" ... As Tesco clothing shoppers rifle through the chain's apparel assortment, they'll be sharing the aisles with six-foot-tall RFID robots, rolling up and down scanning clothing tags for inventory.  

F&F, which is the name of the apparel unit of Tesco, the world's second-largest retailer by revenue, is running the robots as part of a five-store trial. Officially called RFspot Pro and nicknamed Robbie by the F&F team, the robots roam the floor, continually scanning tens of thousands of passive UHF EPC Gen2 tags, strolling up the aisles at about one meter/second on three sets of wheels, reading tags from as many as 30 feet away. ... " 

Recipes for Control: If This Then That: IFTTT

Brought to my attention: IFTTT.  If this then That.  With connection to Amazon Echo.

What is IFTTT?

IFTTT gives you creative control over the products and apps you love.
 Philips
Turn on or off your lights with a tap  .... 

If I post a picture on Instagram, save the photo to Dropbox   .... 

What are Recipes?
Recipes are simple connections between products and apps. 

There are two types of Recipes: Do Recipes and IF Recipes.
Do Recipes
Do Recipes run with just a tap and enable you to create your own personalized Button, Camera, and Notepad. The Do apps are available for iOS and Android.

See also their blog.

Sainsbury Provides Streaming Services with Chromecast

A look at Sainsbury's providing entertainment services with Chromecast.   " ... A quick look at the Sainsbury's Entertainment apps shows that the supermarket added the feature to its Android app earlier this month, with its iOS app gaining Chromecast integration over this past weekend. Once set up, you'll be able to buy or rent titles from its catalog and throw them over to your big screen with a touch of a button, allowing you to then use the app as a dedicated remote   ... "  

Connecting RFID Readers to Smartphones

In RFID Journal: Not quite the same thing as integrating RFID reading directly from within a smartphone, but clever integration.  Good sensor idea.  Applications in retail and many inventory control areas.   Connecting it to commonly used devices with other commercial applications, like inventory control, is useful.  Another example of mobile sensor integration. " .... Zebra's Sled Reader Enables UHF RFID Tag Reads Via Smartphone ... The RFD8500 reads EPC UHF RFID tags and sends that data to iOS and some Android devices via a Bluetooth connection, enabling users, such as store personnel, to collect read data on their mobile devices. ... " .  

Goggle Technologies for VR

Brought to my attention  Goggle Tech looking at hardware and software. VR possibilities are continuing to expand. Some interesting examples at the link.

" ... Goggle Tech Inc. is a subsidiary of Go4D Technolgy Corp. We have a consumer technology, manufacturer, company based out of Seoul, South Korea.

Our flagship product, the C1-Glass and Go4D VR Headset enables 3D stereoscopic content viewing for mobile environments, and has been in development over the past 3 years. The company offers other products and apps to enhance virtual reality media experiences. Go4D Technology Corp. has multiple Korea and PCT granted patents and international patent pending on hardware and software of 3D Virtual Reality technology, as shown below, and many pending patents related to stereoscopic HMD for Smartphones.

Get the most of your 3D VR  with your Android or iOS devices and view your even 2D favorite movies in 3D,   ... " 

Androids in Retail

Short Retailwire discussion piece on the use of androids (human-like robots or interactive images) for interactions in retail. Recall our deep diving Mr Clean effort, link below.  How well do we trust images and interactions that we know are not real people?  Compelling or creepy?   Some tests mentioned I had not heard of.

GE and Industrial Internet

Based on my own interactions with them. thought GE was aligned with industrial internet standards for some time,  but now more:   " ...  The Industrial Internet lets machines communicate over the Internet with their makers. They get software updates and service calls over the Net. It's for machines of all kinds -- from kitchen appliances to factory robots. Just as we have to update our iPhone or Android on a regular basis, we also will have to update our dishwasher or our auto-manufacturing plant equipment. ... " 

Much more detail in this blog on the Industrial Internet, see tag link below.

TAG Heuer Competes with Apple Smart Watch

Not unexpected.  Apple will sell many watches because it is Apple.  Then  It comes down to what the user experience will be like, which is where Google can provide value.  Is it a techno fashion statement or a UX statement?

TAG Heuer to give Apple smartwatch competition 
According to consensus estimates, Apple is expected to sell more than 22 million units of its new smartwatch this year. Those projections may need to be adjusted, however, now that Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer has announced plans to team with Google and Intel to launch an Android-based timepiece this year. How will the entry of traditional watchmakers shape the future of the smartwatch market?  ... 

IKEA to Sell Furniture that Charges Devices

At least with Android devices.    I am a long time follower of office design that embeds technology. Despite how that is seemingly becoming obsolete.    Was unaware of this line, but look forward to wireless clutter.   " .... IKEA Will Start Selling Qi Wireless Charging-Enabled Furniture In April 2015 ... " .  More on Qi Wireless.

Google for the Enterprise

We participated in several Google tests at work, starting with internal search and knowledge organization methods.  Now they are taking another run at the enterprise workplace via Android:

 " ... On Wednesday, Google Inc. announced its Android for Work program in an effort to tap into the “business and innovation potential” of the more than one billion Android smartphones in use.

Google claims that for many Android smartphone owners the devices have become essential tools in their day to day lives, both personal and professional. But Rajen Sheth, director of product management of Android and Chrome for Work feels that “for the majority of workers, smartphones and tablets are underutilized in the workplace.” ... ' 

Gartner: Mobile Apps will be Hybrid

A Gartner prediction that over 50 percent of Apps will be hybrid by 2016.  This question came to mind during the recent announcement of Windows 10 enhancements running on Windows phones.   Which of those will also operate on different architectures?  A concern for BYOD enterprises.

' ... "Our advice would be to assume the enterprise will have to manage a large and diverse set of mobile applications that will span all major architectures," said Van Baker, research vice president at Gartner. "Enterprises should consider how applications can be enriched or improved by the addition of native device capabilities and evaluate development frameworks that offer the ability to develop native, hybrid and Web applications using the same code base. Where possible, development activities should be consolidated via cross-platform frameworks."  ... ' 

Mentioned at the meeting were 'Universal Apps', though the meaning of universal is not quite what you might expect.  It means that the same Apps will run on all Windows 10 devices,  but not on other OS like Android or IOS.

A Cisco App for Collaboration

In CWorld: The Cisco App is being positioned as Freemium.  Will also be interesting to see how this is connected to some of its hardware solutions.  See also its similarities to P&G's Business Sphere.

" ... Cisco crashes the enterprise mobile party with new collaboration app
Cisco will package and deliver enterprise collaboration capabilities via a mobile and Web app built to replicate the ease of use of consumer software but designed for ad hoc, workplace team interaction. 
The app, called Project Squared, joins a growing number of "consumerized" enterprise mobile and Web apps built by startups and designed to put a spin on collaboration, messaging, productivity, video conferencing and communications. .. 

Some of those include Cotap for enterprise mobile messaging, Quip for word processing and spreadsheets, Slack for chat room-like communication, SmartSheet for project and task management and Vidyo and Blue Jeans Network for cloud-based video conferencing. .... 

A beta version of Project Squared is being announced at Cisco's Collaboration Summit on Monday and made available for free download for iOS and Android devices. The app, which will also be available for MacOS computers and whose Web version works on Chrome, Firefox and Safari, lets users communicate via text chat, audio and video, hold multi-party meetings and share content. ... " 

Slideshare Apps Update

New Slideshare apps are available for Android and IOS.   Impressed by the new interface.  Better display.  Slideshare provides a good way to access and utilize consistently and simply packaged knowledge.  Now has the ability to notify the user of new content of interest.

Your Spying Apps

I remember thinking, long ago, why are there so many flashlight apps?  Are these App writers just showing off?  That is what I thought, but it seems the simpler the App, the more likely it is spying on you.  A report on the humble flashlight App,  Specifically for Android Apps, and the likelihood it is tracking you and sending that information to China.  And playing with all sort of options in your phone that have nothing to do with the supposed functionality of the App.  For unknown other reasons.    Is it picking up your banking information?  Maybe.   It is more than buyer beware, the buyer now has to actively protect themselves.

Google Large Scale Data Mining

From KDNuggets:  A peek into what Google is doing with large scale machine learning.   Good technical look with related numbers " ... Sibyl is one of the largest machine learning platforms at Google and is widely used in ranking and scoring of Google products like YouTube, Android app, Gmail, and Google+. Last month, Tushar Chandra, a Principal Engineer at Google Research, talked about how Sibyl is being used at IEEE/IFIP International Conference on Dependable Systems and Networks   ... "