According to reports, this device will become commercially available later this year.
At every Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Samsung will unveil some bizarre yet
strangely endearing robot. Today at their press conference at CES 2024, they showed
off Ballie, which comes equipped with its own projector built-in. According to reports by
The Washington Post, Samsung said this robotic sphere will even become available for
sale within this year!
Ballie first made an appearance during Samsung's 2020 showcase event when an
executive held up its early version onstage and cupping an oversized tennis ball-like
device like it in their hands. At that time, Ballie was touted as both a household assistant
and potential fitness assistant - boasting capabilities such as opening smart curtains or
switching on television. Furthermore, its smart curtains could open and close
automatically while it also was designed to alert emergency services when someone
had fallen and not got back up after experiencing physical pain.
Ballie appears to have matured significantly over four years; according to The
Washington Post it now measures "bowling-ball-size," has an array of spatial LiDAR
sensors and two lens 1080p projector that enables it to project movies, video calls or
"greetings" onto surfaces around it. When displayed during keynote, Ballie greets users
returning home by projecting out "Welcome!" along with conference call information or
workout videos and even the contents of PC secondary screens on nearby surfaces;
additionally it projected video depicted it also projecting greenery onto floor space
opposite it!
Samsung also showcased people controlling Ballie by speaking directly into its
microphone or via text messages; Ballie then responded by sending clips of what it saw
(such as activity from an abandoned pet left at home), such as clips sent back by Ballie
when replying back with clips sent by its infrared transmitter that enabled automatic light
switches or gadgets turning on/off control for connected items as well as non-connected
appliances via its infrared transmitters.
LG had shown off something similar called Rolling Bot in 2016, though that device never
reached market. Although Samsung claims they will start selling this in 2024, no details
or pricing information has been shared besides what The Post reported - though it
would certainly be exciting if something from concept to plausible prototype can
eventually reach store shelves soon enough!
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