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# Personal Assistant Robot
WowWee Rovio (CES 2008)

By Alex Covert | Published 2008-01-06 | Tech
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/personal-assistant-robot-wowwee-rovio
References: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/weblog/read.php?CATEGORY_PK=&TOPIC_PK=2206) & [wowwee](http://www.wowwee.com/)

[WowWee](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dog-e) has brought us the RoboSapien, RoboReptile, RoboRaptor, the Dragonfly Robot, and more. At the Consumer Electronics Show 2008, WowWee introduced the [Rovio](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rovio-classics) - a rolling cart-like gizmo that features a video camera. Rovio can be controlled from any device with an internet connection which means the video can be watched online while you control it via your cellphone.

In another post, Trend Hunter's [Bianca Bartz](http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rovio-robot-wowwee) notes, "The Rovio is a favourite, for sure. It's a Wi-Fi controlled web cam that you steer around, like an electronic car, but instead, the remote control can be your cellphone, computer, video game console, PDA, etc. It can be seen in the gallery, but it's a really neat little invention. It has a camera built in so you can watch the surroundings the electronic gizmo is guided into. From remote locations, users can easily get the Rovio to interact with its surroundings thanks to the clear picture and sound. It has NorthStar, which is basically a mini GPS system so the robot know where is it, as well as the objects around it, making navigation a breeze."

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 6.4/10
- Popularity: 88% | Activity: 95% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Millennial
- Top markets: North America, Europe

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets)

## Key Themes

### Key Themes Behind This Trend

- **Video-controlled Robotics:** The trend towards video-controlled robotics allows for remote operation and interaction with surroundings.
- **Internet-connected Devices:** The rise of internet-connected devices enables control of robots from any location with an internet connection.
- **Enhanced Navigation Systems:** The integration of GPS and object detection technologies in robots simplifies navigation and movement.

### Where This Applies

- **Consumer Electronics:** The consumer electronics industry benefits from the demand for video-controlled robots like the WowWee Rovio.
- **Telecommunications:** The telecommunications industry plays a crucial role in facilitating the connectivity required for remote control of robotic devices.
- **Robotics:** The robotics industry continues to innovate in the field of navigation systems to enhance the capabilities of robots like the Rovio.

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