# Smartphone-Controlled Balls The Orbotix Sphero Rolls to New Ball Game Possibilities By Amelia Roblin | Published 2010-12-14 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/orbotix-sphero References: [ohgizmo](http://www.ohgizmo.com/2010/12/10/sphero-a-smartphone-controlled-robotic-ball/) & [blog.orbotix](http://blog.orbotix.com/uncategorized/the-ball-revealed-sphero/) Sure, your rubber ball is a blast, but soon you'll be able to bounce and roll your Orbotix Sphero with iPhone power instead of muscle! To be presented at CES 2011, this smart little sphere can be controlled by means of your smartphone's Bluetooth with the help of your gadget's tilt sensor. Now with a new futuristic design, the Orbotix Sphero robotic ball released an open API, which means that Android and iOS app developers are already working their magic to bring off-the-wall diversions to your handheld device and your Orbotix Sphero. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.1/10 - Popularity: 14% | Activity: 70% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Smartphone-controlled Toys:** Developing smartphone integration for toys such as Orbotix Sphero provides opportunities for creating innovative, interactive, and futuristic games. - **Bluetooth-enabled Devices:** Utilizing Bluetooth technology in products such as the Orbotix Sphero presents opportunities for more interactive and remote-controlled devices. - **Open API for Robotics:** The release of an open API for the Orbotix Sphero ball unlocks opportunities for developers to create new applications and innovative use cases for robotic balls. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Toy Industry:** The toy industry can benefit by incorporating Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone-controlled features, or robotics to create new and interactive toys for children. - **Gaming Industry:** The gaming industry can explore new possibilities and innovative use cases for smartphone-controlled toys and Bluetooth-enabled devices for gaming purposes. - **Robotic Industry:** The robotic industry can leverage the open API of the Orbotix Sphero ball and develop new applications and innovative use cases for robotics in consumer products. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sports-Based STEM Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sphero-sports.md) - [Connected Training Baseballs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-gaming-baseball.md) - [STEM Education Classroom Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-sphero-bolt.md) - [Roving Projector-Paired Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2024-samsung-ballie.md) - [App Controlled Appliances](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fingerbot-sense.md) - [Smartphone Gimbal Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sphere-gimbal.md) - [Rolling Pet Connectivity Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/freshrobot-rollbot.md) - [Finger-Focused Dancing Video Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/orb-finger-dance-machine.md) - [Interactive Basketball Trackers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spalding-x-siq.md)