The iPal robot opened the Kids at Play Summit at CES 2017.
AvatarMind's iPal robot is 3.5 feet tall, about the height of a 5 year old child, and has 24 motors in the neck, arm, fingers, and wrists. A tablet embedded in its chest runs Android applications, enables video chatting, etc.
iPal can talk, dance, tell stories, play games, encourage physical activity, enable people to chat with friends, share videos, and safely connect to the internet and social media. Parents or caregivers can remotely control iPal and monitor the safety and activities of their child or patient on their smartphone from anywhere and at any time.
A helper for busy parents
Social robots will take some of the burden off parents and improve the quality of life and education of children. iPal is a teacher for their children with spoken language learning and tablet-based educational programs, providing educational content in an engaging manner that supports social development and encourages interest in science and technology. They can provide added care and companionship for children when parents need to deal with other aspects of their lives. No robot can or should take the place of parents or friends, but they can make the everyday lives of parents easier.
Elder Companionship/Care
Many elders are alone and lonely. They often have problems keeping track of everyday activities, such as taking their medicine. iPal is a constant companion that supplements personal care services and provides security with alerts for many medical emergencies. It helps them maintain contact with their family and friends.
Retail/Hospitality
An example is a chain of children’s stores where iPal greets children when they come in the door, entertains them, tells them about products, etc. Another is as a concierge/greeter in hotels to provide guests with a higher level of personal service.