...
4th March, 2019
...

How Small Businesses Compete With Giants

Service robots for personal and domestic use continue to grow. The forecast from 2016 through 2019 is expected to be $22 billion.

Julian Jagtenberg, Co-Founder and Head of Growth, Somnox created a robot that has one job, to help you sleep better. The Dutch startup, with around $282k in funding, wants to reduce the effects of sleep deprivation with their robot that simulates natural breathing as you hold the robot to fall asleep.

Jagtenberg looks at the shift from industrial to home robotics and the emergence of a new species in his predictions for robotics in 2019.

...

Robots will no longer be used solely for industrial application.

Jagtenberg says that the rise of soft robotics will give way to robots that are easier and safer to interact with. "For example, soft robotic companions can be used in healthcare to assist with repetitive tasks such as medication intake, bathing, etc., because nurses and doctors have a limited amount of time to nurture patients, which is vitally important for patient recovery time."

A new species, the electroids, will emerge.

"I believe that robots are just like animals and that a new species is starting to enter our world: the electroids," said Jagtenberg. "Just like homo sapiens, the electroids will co-exist with other animals and us. They will be stronger (electric muscle), more intelligent (connected to the internet and processing power), and are telepathic (radio-contact)."

Robots will change jobs for the better.

"In the media, robots are either taking our jobs or are about to destroy human-kind, and we should really change this stigma, jobs have always disappeared throughout the ages due to technological advancements - and it's not any different now," said Jagtenberg. "We need to re-identify our value and skills every single day."

Jagtenberg says robots have superior intelligence when it comes to IQ and the ability to solve defined problems, but are at zero development when it comes to emotional intelligence. "That's why we humans will stay unique and relevant in this world. Robots will be our friends, not our enemy," adds Jagtenberg.

“The Smart Home 2.0 will begin to take shape in 2019, with more ‘thoughtful’ IoT devices capable of automating and coordinating tasks based on a greater understanding of their environment and users’ preferences," adds Jones..