|
It
was displayed at the recent CEATEC technology show on the
outskirts of Tokyo.
Shaped like a humanoid communication robot, RoBoHoN is 19
centimeters tall and weighs around 390 grams. In addition to its
smartphone functions, RoBoHoN can also dance and talk with
people.
"We wanted to make a phone that felt closer to a user's life
than the normal telephone. That idea led us to this humanoid
robot phone," said Sharp representative Kuniyuki Maruyama.
The robot is also programmed to learn from interacting with
users and thus become smarter, by accumulating users' data in
its cloud system.
"Because the robot will learn about the user through the daily
life they share together, I think it will offer people a much
happier life," said Maruyama.
To answer a phone call, users must press the button on the
robot's back screen and hold it to their cheek. The speaker is
placed inside the robot's mouth.
Visitors to CEATEC were impressed. "It is capable of various
things, such as responding to your speech. There are many kinds
of way to use it. I think this is really a new idea that we have
never seen before," said Naigi.
"I saw it on Twitter first, and then came to see the real thing.
It's smaller than I thought and it's really cute," added Miwako
Tang.
RoBoHoN can also project images onto any surface from short
distances with its in-built forehead projector and even call a
cab for its user.
Sharp says the robot phone is expected to be available in Japan
in the first half of 2016.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
|
