The experimental lamp robot I wrote about recently uses humanlike “body language” but is shaped like a lamp. It’s “anthropomorphic” but not “humanoid.” Apple is investing in a systematic exploration of “robots” that express themselves in reaction to a human user without that robot looking anything at all like a person and even without robot speech.
Apple’s first “robot” will likely be an Apple HomePod that moves. Internally code-named J595, the device has been described by leakers as having an iPad-like display at the end of a robotic arm that tilts, rotates, and moves. It locates and “faces” the user during their interactions or when the user is making a FaceTime call using it. Based on Apple Intelligence, the gadget might be used for controlling smart home devices and security systems.
One reasonable expectation is that Apple’s research for making home appliances “anthropomorphic” but not “humanoid” will be applied to the device. That research, which I detailed last week, is called ELEGNT. But it’s not just a science project. ELEGNT is a framework for designing movement in non-anthropomorphic robots. It combines functional attributes (like task efficiency) with expressive qualities (such as conveying intention, attention, and emotions) to create a better user experience.
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