Portal

by: Logan K.

Since the creation of the robot in the 20th century. There have been many different forms that have been introduced into the world. But in the early 2000’s, the world of home robots has begun to “explode”. More and more people are beginning to put robots into their home, like robotic vacuums, robotic refrigerators, and even robotic alarm clocks that will not let you sleep past the alarm. But the new trend that the american population is now putting into their homes is AI units like Google Home or Amazon ALEXA. But in November of 2018 Facebook reliced the first Home AI unit that was a true robot, Facebook Portal.

Domestic robots were created, like every other robot, to make life for humans easier by doing a specific job or a service. They are mainly used for chores around the house but can be used as well for education, entertainment and therapy. It is believed by 2020 every 1 out of 10 Americans will have at least one domestic robot in their home according to CNBC, and study in 2017, by Pew Research Center, said that 46% of adult Americans use or own some sort of a personal assistant.

At the end of 2018, Facebook released a new home AI unit to the general public, the Facebook Portal. The portal lets you ask questions, plays videos, and call people. The face book portal is the first true Home AI robot because it has what is necessary to be classified as a robot. One of the hardest things that a robot needs to be able to be called a robot is actuators. And yes, the Facebook Portal does have them. When you video chat somebody through the portal, the portal will spin in place so the camera stays on you the whole time, and so you can watch the other end of the call. So based on the robotic definition of what is a robot, the Facebook Portal is a robot.

What will be the next big domestic robot, and how will it change our world?