"Apple" is developing a desktop robot: who will it be for and what will it look like?

Amid rumours that Apple is developing a desktop robot, a leaked company study reveals how it could have a "personality".

Robot uses "computer vision"

"Apple" invests heavily in research into fundamental computing problems. Some of this research is being translated into real-world features in products. Let's hope that the technologies presented in the latest report from their machine learning team will become one of them.

A new research paper and video, which you can view here, demonstrates the benefits of expressive robot movements compared to purely functional movements. 

The hypothesis of the paper is simple: robots can move functionally - choosing the shortest or most efficient path between two states. But they can also move expressively, conveying their intentions, attention, attitudes and emotions.

To compare these two ways of moving, Apple has created a non-anthropomorphic robot - a desk lamp that can see with computer vision, feel touch, understand gestures and verbal commands, and display images with a laser projector. 

This table lamp moves with six flexible joints and reacts in a way that makes it seem to have a distinct personality.

Differences between functional and expressive

The above video is definitely worth watching as it shows how the expressive movement of the robot not only adds more playfulness but is also more useful. 

The robot's movements show when it is paying attention to the user's gestures or commands - it tilts the lamp as if it were looking at the user like a human. 

A functional robot also responds, but it simply performs an action. Meanwhile, an expressive robot gives the user clarity and confidence that it is really working.

When the robot fails to complete a task, the expressive variant shows that it is at least trying, while the functional one simply stops.

When asked about the weather, the expressive robot first “looks” out the window.

When the functional robot reminds the user to drink water, it simply shines a light on the glass.

However, when the expressive robot wants to remind the user to drink water, it alternates between shining the light on the book and the glass, and then bends down and gently pushes the glass closer to the user.

What do the rumors say?

While it’s not quite a smart lamp, Apple is rumored to be working on a desk robot that could have some of the features discussed here.

The device is said to combine a HomePod speaker, an iPad-like display, and a flexible structure that allows it to move.

It could be a smart home control system (similar to the HomePad, which could be coming much sooner) or a video conferencing tool.

Even if this device doesn’t have a fancy iPad-style display, if it’s at least as expressive as this lamp, everyone will want to buy it.