iRobot CEO Colin Angle on the shortcomings of humanoid robots (video)

Nearly everyone who's purchased one the 10 million-plus Roombas sold around the world has inevitably asked the same question: whatever happened to Rosie? For all its charms, iRobot's hockey puck-like floor cleaner will never compare to the Jetsons' sass-talking maid. We're living in an age of robots and we don't even know it. They're everywhere we look, but it's hard to recognize them after countless science fiction books and movies have hammered home the image of electronic mirrors of ourselves. In order to embrace a robotic future, however, many have scrapped the traditional notion of the android. "Building robot versions of people is very expensive," explains iRobot co-founder and CEO Colin Angle. "The thing that iRobot had to do to become a legitimate business [was] take a great step away from the traditional notion of what a robot should be. Why should it be to vacuum that I need to build an upright person and give them a vacuum? Why not build the vacuum that can guide itself around, that can go under couches? You can make it radically less expensive." Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub! Filed under: Robots Comments Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2013-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other Publishing stories related to: 'iRobot CEO Colin Angle on the shortcomings of humanoid robots (video)'


NBA All-World hands-on: Taking basketball video games back to the streets

Niantic has created some of the most popular augmented reality games like Ingress and Pokémon Go. But this week the company is launching a new title called NBA All-World that might be the best application of its location-based tech to date.For people who have played one of Niantic’s previous... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-01-25 17:00:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #surprising amount #january 24th #official release #dive deeper #real life #harry potter


Hachette CEO Michael Pietsch on Book Sales, Copyright, and More

In a letter to agents and authors, HBG CEO Michael Pietsch touched on a number of topics, including the sales outlook for trade books, the lawsuit against the Internet Archive, and increasing direct-to-consumer marketing and sales efforts. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-10 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book sales #trade books #internet archive


8 of the Best Science Fiction Books About Robots

Meet mechanical dragons, security units, and wild robots in these incredible science fiction books all about robots. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-01-09 11:32:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #science fiction


The best new business books CEOs read in 2022

As the year comes to a close, ‘Fast Company’ asked leaders which books they sought out for guidance and leadership advice. In 2022, as they faced a tight labor market and a looming economic downturn, business leaders had a lot on their minds. With the year coming to a close, Fast Company asked... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2022-12-14 07:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #business books #fast company #business leaders #bipolar disorder #memoir


Jesse Myers Named President and CEO of Baker Publishing

Currently the publisher of Lexham Press and the director of original content for Faithlife, Jesse Myers has been named president and CEO of the Baker Book House Company, effective May 1, 2023, succeeding the retiring Dwight Baker. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #baker publishing #original content #named president


Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle Steps Down

The chief executive of the largest publisher in the U.S., Penguin Random House, has stepped down. Markus Dohle oversaw the attempted acquisition of Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-12-09 14:47:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #largest publisher #simon schuster #random house


Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle is stepping down

The CEO of Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade publisher, is stepping down Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2022-12-09 13:58:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #penguin random house


Markus Dohle Steps Down as Penguin Random House CEO

Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle has relinquished his position at the head of the publisher, “at his own request and on the best of mutual terms,” just weeks after a federal judge blocked the publisher’s attempt to acquire rival Big Five publisher Simon & Schuster. PRH president and... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #interim basis #penguin random house


Paramount CEO Says S&S Will Be Divested

At a UBS media conference earlier this week, Bob Bakish, CEO of Simon & Schuster parent company Paramount Global, said that with the sale to Penguin Random House now dead, the company still plans to divest the publisher, though he didn’t say how or when. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-07 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bob bakish #penguin random house


Today’s Google Doodle celebrates Jerry Lawson, the ‘father of the video game cartridge’

Google’s interactive Doodle today celebrates the life and accomplishments of video game pioneer Gerald “Jerry” Lawson on what would have been his 82nd birthday. The Doodle lets you play five retro pixel-art platformers in your browser — with two even letting you play as Lawson. The Doodles’... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-01 18:15:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #commercial success #libraries


SIBF 2022: PRH CEO Dohle Says Ruling Is "Utterly Wrong"

Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle took the stage on Tuesday morning at the Sharjah International Book Fair and said he is "super disappointed" with the court ruling blocking PRH's proposed acquisition of S&S, calling the decision "utterly wrong." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tuesday morning #proposed acquisition #penguin random house


Lyrasis Names U. of Illinois Librarian John Wilkin CEO

Wilkin was appointed after a six-month search and will succeed Erin Tripp, currently Interim Lyrasis CEO, who took the helm after CEO Robert Miller announced his departure in February. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Harper Horizon’s Andrea Fleck-Nisbet Named CEO of IBPA

Andrea Fleck-Nisbet, founding v-p and publisher of Nashville-based nonfiction imprint Harper Horizon, will succeed Angela Bole as CEO of the Independent Book Publishers Association, effective November 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harper horizon


Amazon Prime Video will stream NFL Black Friday games starting in 2023

Amazon doesn't want to limit itself to streaming football games on Thursday nights. The internet giant has struck a deal with the NFL for Prime Video to livestream a yearly match on Black Friday, the day after American Thanksgiving. The first game airs November 24th, 2023 at about 3PM Eastern,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-10-19 21:10:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #internet giant #black friday #large audience #nielsen ratings #nielsen


Z2 Comics Names New Leadership Team Following Resignation of CEO

Z2 Comics, an indie graphic novel publisher specializing in music and pop culture merchandise, announced that its founder and CEO Josh Frankel has left the company, and a new leadership team has been appointed. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #leadership team #z2 comics #indie graphic #publisher specializing #graphic novel


PFLAG Adapts Picture Book to Video, Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month

In celebration of LGBTQ+ History month in October, nonprofit organization Parents, Families, & Friends of LGBT National has brought together a slew of celebrities to voice characters in a video adaptation of picture book 'The Mother of a Movement: Jeanne Manford—Ally, Activist, and... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #picture book


The best video streaming services in 2022

The number of video streaming services available has increased dramatically over the past few years as everyone decides they want a piece of the pie. The days when Netflix was your only option are long gone now, and while that’s great for all of us itching to discover our next favorite TV show,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-10-06 13:15:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #global pandemic #modern society #takes place #zoom call #news corp #libraries


Macmillan Announces Changes as CEO Transition Continues

Jon Yaged, who will officially succeed Don Weisberg as CEO of Macmillan Publishers US later this year, will take over day-to-day responsibilities for running the company, effective today, along with other changes among executive personnel. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jon yaged #macmillan publishers #effective today #macmillan


This is definitive proof that Jeff Bezos is building an army of robot ants.

It’s a tale as old as time: a Brazilian writer sets her Kindle aside for a few weeks to work on her own novel, and when she goes back to get a little reading done, finds that the device has been infested with a horde of tiny white ants. “My virtual library had become a […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-08-04 13:07:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #definitive proof #jeff bezos #virtual library #kindle


Capstone Names Randi Economou as CEO

Randi Economou, most recently at Renaissance Learning, has been named the new CEO of the educational and children's publisher Capstone. She succeeds principal and owner Bob Coughlan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #children's publisher