You Might Actually Welcome This $599 Robot In Your Home

Meet Zenbo, the Asus Robot That Costs No More Than a Smartphone

Voice-controlled companion, whose touchscreen face shows its emotions, can entertain kids and control the lights

Samuel Gibbs | May 31, 2016

The Taiwanese electronics manufacture Asus has unveiled a home robot called Zenbo that can talk, control your home and provide assistance when needed – all for the cost of a top-end smartphone.
The $599 (£410) robot rolls around on two wheels in the shape of a vacuum cleaner ball with cameras an oblong head extruding from the top with a colour touchscreen displaying a face with emotions. It is capable of independent movement, can respond to voice commands and has both entertainment protocols for keeping kids amused and home care systems to help look after older people.
Jonney Shih, the Asus chairman, said: “For decades, humans have dreamed of owning such a companion: one that is smart, dear to our hearts, and always at our disposal. Our ambition is to enable robotic computing for every household.”

"Asus aims for the heart of the home with cute do-it-all robot." (May 30, 2016) Source: http://www.gizmag.com/asus-zenbo-home-robot/43587/

"Asus Zenbo robot is a connected assistant and playmate" Source: http://www.slashgear.com/asus-zenbo-robot-is-a-connected-assistant-and-playmate-30442116/

<more at https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/may/31/asus-zenbo-robot-price-smartphone-voice-face; related articles and links: http://www.gizmag.com/asus-zenbo-home-robot/43587/ (Asus aims for the heart of the home with cute do-it-all robot. May 30, 2016) and http://www.slashgear.com/asus-zenbo-robot-is-a-connected-assistant-and-playmate-30442116/ (Asus Zenbo robot is a connected assistant and playmate. May 30, 2016)>