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CES Was Full of Useless Robots and Machines That Don’t Work

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Re: CES Was Full of Useless Robots and Machines That Don’t Work

#451

Post by daemin »

lev99 wrote: post #415
semi-extrinsic wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the Foldimate was more capable, the laundry services would start using them and their prices would drop accordingly, no?

I'm not sure how laundry services currently work. Assuming there is a robot like Foldimate maybe laundry services will use them and maybe laundry services will be unable to compete with coin-operated Foldimates located at self-service laundry facilities.

I assume that the people at those laundry services would be so practised at folding clothes that it would take longer for them to feed it into the machine then to just fold the clothes themselves.

Re: CES Was Full of Useless Robots and Machines That Don’t Work

#452

Post by tinus_hn »

weego wrote: post #253
iandanforth wrote: post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know the guy behind FoldiMate a little bit. I've met him at trade shows. One thing I have to point out is that he has pursued this dream for years. Lack of interest, team, funding ... nothing has stopped this guy. It's a really hard problem and he keeps at it. I can't say I'm rushing out to buy one myself, but there's a human story here too, and I think that's been lost in the coverage.

That's great, unfortunately he seems to have lost perspective and is developing a product no one will want at a price no one will pay.

If he can make it work the first ones will be for the crazy rich and the next generation will be much less expensive.

Re: CES Was Full of Useless Robots and Machines That Don’t Work

#453

Post by tinus_hn »

dagw wrote: post #266
crdoconnor wrote: post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Laundrettes?

There already exist machines that work on a more industrial scale. This seems aimed more at the home market.

These machines suck too. In the factory clothing is folded manually using a basic device so it looks neat.

Re: CES Was Full of Useless Robots and Machines That Don’t Work

#454

Post by lsaferite »

tinus_hn wrote: post #452
weego wrote: post #253

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's great, unfortunately he seems to have lost perspective and is developing a product no one will want at a price no one will pay.

If he can make it work the first ones will be for the crazy rich and the next generation will be much less expensive.

I'd think the crazy rich would just hire a maid.

Re: CES Was Full of Useless Robots and Machines That Don’t Work

#455

Post by roel_v »

omilu wrote: post #447
roel_v wrote: post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't skimp om dishwasher quality. You'd think 'hiw different can they be', but a cheap dishwasher is only slightly better than none at all (having to rinse, redoing things that weren't cleaned well, frequent breakage/blockage) whereas a good one is a life changer.

recommendations? I have yet to find a good one.

Miele. Twice as expensive as most others, but they'll last 20 years.

Re: CES Was Full of Useless Robots and Machines That Don’t Work

#456

Post by girvo »

UweSchmidt wrote: post #258
emdowling wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live alone and have a “half width” dishwasher. It’s amazing at saving me time but also clutter. No dirty dishes on the bench top. The thing is on every night. Research has also shown it uses far less water and energy than hand washing. By far the best investment I ever made for house cleaning though is a cordless Dyson vacuum. It’s mounted on the wall and I end up vacuuming (5 mins max) every day so it hardly feels…

Less water and energy, but using a brutal kind of soap that is surely more harmful to the environment than hand wash soap.

Three small squirts of handwashing liquid, fill it 2/3rds the way with baking soda, then fill the rest with cooking salt: works wonders in a dishwasher, is cheap as hell, and pretty good environment-wise.

Re: CES Was Full of Useless Robots and Machines That Don’t Work

#457

Post by duncanawoods »

intrasight wrote: post #400
duncanawoods wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

25 years ago, in a high school English exam, I wrote a short story about just such a design. As is the way of such stories, the arm throttled a small child after a miscommunication! I was a little bothered that I might have unconsciously cribbed it from Asimov that I read at that age. Mechanical ceiling arms seem likely to be terrifying even if they work.

Doesn't have to be terrifying. Make it soft and squishy and use artificial muscles not gears and motors. It doesn't have to be able to lift my piano.

I don't find ceiling tentacles any more reassuring!

Re: CES Was Full of Useless Robots and Machines That Don’t Work

#458

Post by visarga »

raitom wrote: post #303
visarga wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Self fill bathtub? That's a good one. I have a "smart" self-adjusting faucet that can be set directly in temperature. ... but I can't live without a washlet (electronic bidet/toilet). I have come to the conclusion that dry manual wiping is out for me, because in the end it just smears a thin film of shit all over. The washlet is nice - the seat is warmed, water is warmed and it dries me "hands free". It's an amazing…

I will definitely invest in a washlet. Any link for this smart faucet?

yes, something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Teka-Pro-Thermostat-Bathtub-Faucet-...

Re: CES Was Full of Useless Robots and Machines That Don’t Work

#460

Post by trisimix »

Kluny wrote: post #31
bane wrote: post #5

Here's what I want robots to do: 1) Wash my dishes, dry them and put them away completely automatically. 2) Wash and dry my clothes, fold them and put them away completely automatically. These two things would save me hours of work per week. FoldiMate simply isn't even close to being good enough, but I'd be willing to spend about that much for a robot that could do #2. I can vacuum my floor by myself and greet people…

How about a dishwasher that holds all your dishes, and the dishes just stay in there? Eliminate the step of putting them in cabinets.

Think youd need two dishwashers for that. One to put the dirties in while the other is clean. Plus your limited to around 1 1/2 dishwashers of dishes.
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