Re:Google Canceled the Launch of a Robotic Arm
by elsewhen on Thursday October 06, 2016 @04:10PM
(#12655670)
"Consumers simply aren't going to spend the equivalent of buying a new car for something that can be done by a minimum-wage maid service"
a leased new car costs the consumer a few hundred dollars a month, which is the equivalent of say 30 or 40 hours of minimum wage labor. a robot that cleans floors, prepares food, washes clothes, folds laundry, cleans windows, serves meals, puts dishes away, feeds the dog, waters plants etc. could work 24/7 (with swappable batteries). i'm not convinced that consumers wouldn't pay that if the technology could get there.
of course we are far from a robot that can do all of that, but in my opinion, the prize to the company that can deliver this is massive.
Re:Google Canceled the Launch of a Robotic Arm
by bduerst on Friday October 07, 2016 @02:15AM
(#12658573)
Consumers don't lease appliances, and they're certainly not going to pay $500/mo + maintenance for something that they and/or a maid can do.
It's an inferior service, the same reason the Roomba didn't put Dyson or Hoover out of business.
If anything, the Roomba proved that there is small niche-market demand for robotic automation in the home, and economies of scale for goods follows the demand. Consumers simply aren't going to spend the equivalent of buying a new car for something that can be done by a minimum-wage maid service.