ConnectR is a robot created by iRobot Corporation that lets you virtually visit with loved ones, relatives and pets anytime you wish – seeing, hearing and interacting with them in their home as if you were there in person.You can talk to and interact with your loved ones, friends and pets even when you can't be there in person. The ConnectR web site states that it allows you to:

• Participate in family moments even though you're working late
• On a business trip? Read your kids a story and see their faces light up
• Join the fun from near or far
• Throw a party from a thousand miles away
• Tell Fido he's a "good boy" even while you're on vacation

Reading between the lines of this marketing prose, the ConnectR allows a remote person to capture images and sound, and send sound through a mobile, remotely controlled device. This permits someone to 'connect' to a remote location with vision and sound. The unique aspect of the ConnectR solution is it's mobility. There are plenty of other means to communicate using voice and/or video. The ConnectR is the first (only?) commercial product that lets the remote user control the location.

Technology Effects and Constraints

The ConnectR robot is based on iRobot's underlying technology base that has produced the Roomba vacuum robot, the Scooba floor scrubbing robot and several other robot products. One of the key aspects of these robots is their ability to navigate and maneuver within controlled environments such as a home. The key, new effect of ConnectR is that, instead of being self-contained in its actions, it is controlled by a remote person. This 'feature' is likely to completely change the interaction between the robot and the people it is interacting with. Whereas with the Roomba, people tend to form emotional bonds with the object - it's independent actions and behaviors have some semblance of intention and consciousness - it is hard to see how ConnectR will be able to duplicate this emotional response. It could just as easily be seen as an intruder as a companion.

Note that the ability to communicate remotely with sound and video is currently available through tools like Skype video and other products. If two people carry wireless devices that has a video camera and uses Skype (like the laptop being used to write this) all of the effects are achieved except independent mobility control from the remote end.

Some of the effects of the ConnectR technology are:

• Mobility in a controlled and structured environment
• Remote location and position control
• Two way sound transmission
• Video capture and transmission

A key effect and constraint of the ConnectR technology is the asymmetry of control. In 'normal' human interactions, there is a symmetry of communication where both sides have at least some control over the location and means of communicating. The ConnectR alters this symmetry to the advantage of the remote communicator. It remains to be seen how this change will effect people's experience.

Community Needs and Desires

The need to connect has always been a compelling driver of innovation. The ConnectR changes the means of connection by providing a mobile platform. Some of the anticipated needs and desires that could motivate the adoption (or rejection) of this product are:

• Enhance feeling of security when away from home
• Increase visual coverage of locations of interest
• Increase interaction with people at remote locations
• Minimize inconvenience of interaction
• Enhance feeling of participation in remote events
• Increase the ability to see whom you are communicating with
• Moderate the feeling of intrusion
• Enhance the feeling of equal participation

These needs and desires certainly aren't unique to the ConnectR product but will affect its adoption.

Possible Personas

There are Several potential personas that can be imagined within the context of remote communication.

• Family Traveler - a parent who is occasionally or frequently away on business trips
• Gadget Happy - someone who is attracted by the unique capabilities and wants to experiment and show off
• Parent Overseer - people who wish to keep track of elderly parents health and welfare
• Security Concerned - those who wish to keep detailed track of their home when they are away
• Social Connector - someone who wishes to interact with remote events
  
• Intrusion Averse - people who want to control over who is seeing, listening to them
  

URU Assessment

For the most part, the ConnectR scores high in the area of Uniqueness, Moderate with respect to relevance and Low to Moderate on Ubiquity. The ability for remote location control is certainly at the heart of the offering and it currently is unique and, more importantly, would be viewed as unique by the different personas.

With respect to Relevance, most of the situations in which ConnectR would be considered are 'special' in the sense that they are not central to daily activity and interactions. This is not true of all personas however (note the Parent Overseer). One of the relevance barriers that ConnectR must overcome is its accessibility. How easy is it to get it functioning when it is thought of/desired at the moment.

Ubiquity is where ConnectR is most vulnerable. It is not clear how widespread the personas and underlying needs and desires are at this time. Our guess is that the product will appeal to a relatively low percentage of the most relevant personas. It's adoption potential, in its current form, is therefore limited.

Opinion and Outlook

iRobot has been relatively successful with their Roomba vacuuming robot and with their military PackBot robots. On this one, they are trying to make a long putt. It is hard to see how the marketing hype of 'throwing a party from 1000 mile away', or 'tell Fido he's a good boy while you are on vacation' will happen. These are clearly fabricated scenarios that have little basis in how people really behave and it looks like iRobot is stretching to find a compelling reason for people to buy one. Clue to iRobot, the list you've provided is not it!

There is no doubt that many people would like to stay better connected with their loved ones (including pets) and their home, the questionable part is doing this through an inanimate, interacting object that is not controlled by the person in immediate contact with the device. This is an experience that no one has had before and the issue of if people will adapt (and how long it will take) to this type of interaction is the unanswered question. People do form emotional bonds to their inanimate, but interactive objects. But will ConnectR create this type of emotional bond or just be seen as a 'channel' - a phone and camera on wheels.

Overall prognosis

The technology will evolve and become more sophisticated as the products become 'companions' as well as connectors to others. If iRobot can stick with this platform and evolve it to become a true surrogate for remote presence, then adoption could take off.