Give an iPad to a 3-year-old and within only a few sessions they're trying to touch all screens. The immediate response and intuitive nature of the touch interface has changed how we interact with the world, and come to expect how it should interact with us.
New parents, I hope your flatscreen is mounted above 4 feet. ;)
So as we venture into newer tech, that of AR, VR and AI, what are we expecting? Jibo (still on waitlist, before preorders) looks to further evolve Siri or Alexa with interactive response. Seems a smart play.
It seems a perfect gadget for the new Me Generation too.
Research shows Millennials are taking longer than previous generations to settle down, purchase property, marry and have children. They're noted for job hopping, enjoying traveling and skewing spending toward food and entertainment over luxury items. But it's not a lack of commitment as much as I believe, a culture of life-long explorers.
That said, Jibo could position itself as the perfect pet too.
For the human breed raised online among virtual communities, it's easy to follow why pet ownership is highest with this generation. Pets serve as a gateway to personal connection with another being – interaction less familiar to Millennials – while enabling more expendable income for life's pleasures.
Jibo is no ordinary robot. It raises the bar from Alexa, Siri or Google's Assistant with lively body language, quips and wit. It will be intimately personal, leveraging facial recognition, tracking movement, environmentally responsive, connected and continually learning. So it's not a far leap to see how the Jibo will play a large role in the Millennial household.
The preorder price +$75o (c. 2014) may seem steep, but over 4800 were already purchased through it's 2014 top grossing Indiegogo campaign raising over $3.6m.
It's pending launch won't yet fully support the breadth of 'micro expressions' and smooth interactions of the campaign promo video, but it's clearly on path for success, and a home mainstay in the coming years as full potential is realized.
This little interactive robot could be younger Millennials' first pet.
