Most home robots feature hard, mechanical exteriors, making interaction with children a little confusing or intimidating, so to make kids feel more comfortable, 'Blossom' has been introduced as a family-friendly robot.
Covered in knitted wool and complete with big floppy ears, Blossom looks like any other stuffed toy. Made in collaboration between researchers at Cornell University and Google Zoo's creative technology team, this handcrafted bot rejects the traditional inclusion of shiny screens and rough exteriors that characterize most autonomous household devices.
Blossom, the social robot hopes to change the dynamic between families and bots, adding more personality and ultimately helping children accept the machines as a positive addition to a household, instead of a confusing and scary piece of technology.
Knitted Domestic Social Bots
Blossom is a Family-Friendly Robot That Looks Like a Child's Toy
Trend Themes
1. Family-friendly Robots - Creating robots with a soft, cuddly appearance to make them more approachable and comfortable for children.
2. Knitted Exteriors - Using soft, knitted wool as a design element for home robots to create a friendlier and less intimidating aesthetic.
3. Enhanced Human-robot Interaction - Developing robots with more personality and social skills to improve the acceptance and integration of robots in households.
Industry Implications
1. Toy Manufacturing - Exploring opportunities to create and market robots as interactive and educational toys for children.
2. Textile and Fabric Manufacturing - Providing materials and design expertise for creating knitted and soft exteriors for robots and other products.
3. Household Electronics - Incorporating knitted exteriors and social capabilities in the design of home robots to improve interaction and acceptance by families.