OYSTER BAY, USA: Recent years have seen the development of a significant personal robot market beyond just toys, although even in entertainment robots (toys), there has been substantial improvement over the wind-up robots of the past. A wider range of task robots is on the market and in development, and entertainment robots have expanded in capability and fallen in price as well.
Advances in military and commercial robots will continue to trickle down to the consumer market, and components will see price declines driven by their use in other markets (e.g., laser rangefinders in the automotive industry), according to the ABI Research market study “Personal Robotics 2009: Task, Security & Surveillance/Telepresence, Entertainment and Education Robot, and Robotic Components Markets Through 2015."
This ABI Research study finds the personal robotics market in 2009 will achieve a global value of $1.16 billion, and forecasts the market will more than quadruple by 2015, when worldwide shipments will be valued at $5.26 billion.
The personal robotics market encompasses consumer robotic products that have some intelligence, interface with their environment through sensors, and perform a desired function. This function may be to perform a task, to act as a security system, to entertain people, or to be used as an educational tool.
The study finds North America is the largest market for personal robots. The second-largest market for personal robots is the Asia-Pacific region, in part due to Japan, where the culture embraces robots. Western Europe will grow to become a significant market, but Europeans are interested less in the cachet of owning a robot, and more in how well the robot performs its task.
Study author Marc Liggio, says that the main personal robot market segments that have thrived in recent years are vacuum cleaner robots and entertainment robots.
“Telepresence is a big buzzword in the personal robotics market. Robots with telepresence capabilities facilitate the interaction of a remote user with people and the environment through the robot. Telepresence is a coming business solution which, while probably not sufficient in itself, may become a necessary component of personal robots.”
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
One quarter of all cars to support remote cell phone control by 2016
EL SEGUNDO, USA: In the 1997 spy thriller Tomorrow Never Dies, secret agent James Bond employs an Ericsson cell phone to control his BMW 750iL, outdriving a horde of gun-wielding bad guys in a tire-screeching, heart-pounding car chase.
While actually driving a car with a cell phone remains the province of cinematic fantasy, using a mobile handset to remotely control some motor vehicle functions is already a reality, and represents a market set to boom in the coming years, according to iSuppli Corp.
Worldwide shipments of cars equipped with systems capable of remote control via a cell phone or other device are set to rise to 20.7 million units in 2016, up from 85,000 in 2010. In 2016, more than a quarter of all cars sold worldwide will support some type of remote operation.
The figure presents iSuppli’s forecast of shipments of remote-operated telematics systems.
Source: iSuppli, Nov. 2009
“The market for remote operation of car features is set to grow rapidly in the coming years,” noted Egil Juliussen, principal analyst and fellow for iSuppli’s Automotive Practice. “Car OEMs are planning to implement these systems across a wide range of car models as a standard feature, propelling the growth of the market.”
Remote car operation features supported by these systems include door locks, lights, air-conditioning and heater control. Electric vehicles will make particular use of the remote operation of Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning systems to achieve a comfortable temperature in the car while it is still plugged in, which will save the battery for driving.
Both embedded telematics systems, like General Motors’ OnStar service, and mobile device systems such as Ford Sync, will be adding remote operation features.
Hyundai recently introduced such a system in South Korea. General Motors has demonstrated such a system as part of OnStar, but hasn’t deployed it yet.
Furthermore, Toyota in Japan is offering a suite of services that provides a range of car control and safety options via remote control from a mobile phone or PC. Toyota’s G-Security system allows remote viewing of interior of your car and monitoring of vehicle movement in case it is stolen.
“While 007-style remote car driving isn’t on the drawing board yet, the arrival of mobile-phone car operation systems represents yet another instance of a James Bond gadget becoming a reality,” Juliussen said.
While actually driving a car with a cell phone remains the province of cinematic fantasy, using a mobile handset to remotely control some motor vehicle functions is already a reality, and represents a market set to boom in the coming years, according to iSuppli Corp.
Worldwide shipments of cars equipped with systems capable of remote control via a cell phone or other device are set to rise to 20.7 million units in 2016, up from 85,000 in 2010. In 2016, more than a quarter of all cars sold worldwide will support some type of remote operation.
The figure presents iSuppli’s forecast of shipments of remote-operated telematics systems.
Source: iSuppli, Nov. 2009“The market for remote operation of car features is set to grow rapidly in the coming years,” noted Egil Juliussen, principal analyst and fellow for iSuppli’s Automotive Practice. “Car OEMs are planning to implement these systems across a wide range of car models as a standard feature, propelling the growth of the market.”
Remote car operation features supported by these systems include door locks, lights, air-conditioning and heater control. Electric vehicles will make particular use of the remote operation of Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning systems to achieve a comfortable temperature in the car while it is still plugged in, which will save the battery for driving.
Both embedded telematics systems, like General Motors’ OnStar service, and mobile device systems such as Ford Sync, will be adding remote operation features.
Hyundai recently introduced such a system in South Korea. General Motors has demonstrated such a system as part of OnStar, but hasn’t deployed it yet.
Furthermore, Toyota in Japan is offering a suite of services that provides a range of car control and safety options via remote control from a mobile phone or PC. Toyota’s G-Security system allows remote viewing of interior of your car and monitoring of vehicle movement in case it is stolen.
“While 007-style remote car driving isn’t on the drawing board yet, the arrival of mobile-phone car operation systems represents yet another instance of a James Bond gadget becoming a reality,” Juliussen said.
New Nintendo DS game helps you put some style in your stylus
REDMOND, USA: Nintendo’'s new Style Savvy™ video game puts you in the role of the manager of a chic clothing boutique. Your customers look to you to help find cool outfits that match their style while staying within their budget. The game, which launches today exclusively for the portable Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo DSi™ systems, blends elements of fashion smarts and business know-how with the fun of finding ways to help people look their best.
“Style Savvy inspires players to help customers express their style and creativity, all while managing a store, including budget and inventory,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The game includes more than 10,000 clothing items, shoes and accessories, which invite endless creative possibilities.”
Style Savvy includes 16 different in-game designer labels, each with its own distinct style and price point. The customers who visit your shop have different personalities, needs, interests and budgets, and it’s up to you to make them look their best in your clothes so they come back for more.
Once your store collects enough money, then it’ is time for you to go shopping to replenish your stock. You'’ll find different clothing options and styles available at various times of the year, as the game adapts to the change in real-world seasons based on the calendar settings of your Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi system.
If you make a local wireless connection, you can invite up to three friends who have Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi systems and copies of the game to compete in a fashion runway contest to see who has the best eye for fashion. If two players have the Style Savvy game, and are within 30 feet of each other, they can connect their Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi systems locally to visit each other’s stores.
“Style Savvy inspires players to help customers express their style and creativity, all while managing a store, including budget and inventory,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The game includes more than 10,000 clothing items, shoes and accessories, which invite endless creative possibilities.”
Style Savvy includes 16 different in-game designer labels, each with its own distinct style and price point. The customers who visit your shop have different personalities, needs, interests and budgets, and it’s up to you to make them look their best in your clothes so they come back for more.
Once your store collects enough money, then it’ is time for you to go shopping to replenish your stock. You'’ll find different clothing options and styles available at various times of the year, as the game adapts to the change in real-world seasons based on the calendar settings of your Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi system.
If you make a local wireless connection, you can invite up to three friends who have Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi systems and copies of the game to compete in a fashion runway contest to see who has the best eye for fashion. If two players have the Style Savvy game, and are within 30 feet of each other, they can connect their Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi systems locally to visit each other’s stores.
Monday, November 2, 2009
As HD TV goes mainstream, In-Stat looks forward to ultra-HD TV
SCOTTSDALE, USA: While the market for High-Definition TV (HDTV) has hit the mainstream, the industry has already started speculating about the commercialization of Ultra-High Definition (UHD).
In-Stat believes there will be a lengthy time period before the UHD market reaches a critical mass of 5 percent household penetration. However, as the initial market debuts over the next five to 10 years, there will be ample opportunities for the technology companies, manufacturers, service providers and media companies to experiment with business models and strategies to make UHD a strong business in the long term.
“UHD formats provide between four and sixteen times the resolution of Blu-ray or 1080p high definition as well as 22.2 multichannel three-dimensional sound,” says Michelle Abraham, In-Stat analyst. “This is a vast improvement over the currently available end user viewing experience in the home.”
As originally proposed, UHD comes in two levels of resolution: 7680 x 4320 pixels (i.e., 8K resolution), and 3840 x 2160 (i.e., 4K resolution).
Recent research by In-Stat found the following:
* The rising popularity of high resolution digital cinema will expose consumers to high resolution content. Then, early UHDTVs will be made available to provide a digital cinema high resolution viewing experience in the home. Ultimately, broadcasters will start offering UHD content to an addressable market of UHDTVs, between 2017 and 2022.
* In-Stat expects the total installed base of UHDTVs Europe to approach 5 percent household penetration until 2021, and increase to over 28.2 percent penetration by 2025.
* In Asia-Pacific, Japan will be among the early adopter countries.
In-Stat believes there will be a lengthy time period before the UHD market reaches a critical mass of 5 percent household penetration. However, as the initial market debuts over the next five to 10 years, there will be ample opportunities for the technology companies, manufacturers, service providers and media companies to experiment with business models and strategies to make UHD a strong business in the long term.
“UHD formats provide between four and sixteen times the resolution of Blu-ray or 1080p high definition as well as 22.2 multichannel three-dimensional sound,” says Michelle Abraham, In-Stat analyst. “This is a vast improvement over the currently available end user viewing experience in the home.”
As originally proposed, UHD comes in two levels of resolution: 7680 x 4320 pixels (i.e., 8K resolution), and 3840 x 2160 (i.e., 4K resolution).
Recent research by In-Stat found the following:
* The rising popularity of high resolution digital cinema will expose consumers to high resolution content. Then, early UHDTVs will be made available to provide a digital cinema high resolution viewing experience in the home. Ultimately, broadcasters will start offering UHD content to an addressable market of UHDTVs, between 2017 and 2022.
* In-Stat expects the total installed base of UHDTVs Europe to approach 5 percent household penetration until 2021, and increase to over 28.2 percent penetration by 2025.
* In Asia-Pacific, Japan will be among the early adopter countries.
Large-area TFT LCD shipments reach record highs, despite monitor panel declines
AUSTIN, USA: September 2009 shipments of large-area TFT LCD panels reached 52 million units, up 2 percent M/M and 25 percent Y/Y, according to the DisplaySearch Monthly TFT LCD Shipment Database -— setting a new record for monthly large-area TFT LCD shipments. Large-area TFT LCD revenues reached $6.8 billion, up 6 percent M/M and 15 percent Y/Y.
The overall market grew despite the fact that shipments of monitor panels declined 8 percent M/M to 16.8 million units, the first time this segment has experienced a M/M decline since February of this year.
Samsung shipped more than 5 million panels for portable PCs (notebook and mini-note/netbook) in September, which is the first time a supplier shipped that many panels in a month for this application.
According to David Hsieh, Vice President of DisplaySearch: "September was a record-breaking month for large-area TFT LCD panels in several segments, including total shipments, shipment area, notebook PC, TV and mini-note panel shipments.
"However, inventory adjustment and seasonal slowdown obviously influenced monitor panel demand, so for the first time since February, monitor panel shipments were down from the previous month.”
Hsieh added: “Sales of LCD TVs in China during the golden week holiday were very strong, indicating that the LCD TV boom in China is not over yet and many brands continue to purchase panels to refill inventories. Moreover, LCD TV demand is picking up in Europe and North America, driving panel shipments to a record high of 15.6 million in September.”
Additional highlights from the DisplaySearch Monthly TFT LCD Shipment Database:
* On a unit basis, Samsung was the leader with 24.3 percent market share, followed closely by LG Display with 24 percent, AUO with 17.9 percent, and CMO with 14.1 percent.
* LCD shipments for portable PCs (including notebook and mini-note) and TVs showed M/M growth—reaching record highs of 18.6 and 15.6 million units, respectively (Table 1).
* In terms of area, large-area TFT LCD shipments reached 8.1 million square meters in September, up 6 percent M/M and 28 percent Y/Y, another record high for LCDs.
* Mini-note PC (5.0-11.6”) panel shipments were 4.4 million in September, achieving an all-time high. AUO and HannStar led this segment with each shipping more than 1 million mini-note panels in September.
Table 1: Monthly Large-Area TFT LCD Panel Shipments and Growth (Millions)
Source: DisplaySearch October 2009 Monthly TFT LCD Shipment Database
The overall market grew despite the fact that shipments of monitor panels declined 8 percent M/M to 16.8 million units, the first time this segment has experienced a M/M decline since February of this year.
Samsung shipped more than 5 million panels for portable PCs (notebook and mini-note/netbook) in September, which is the first time a supplier shipped that many panels in a month for this application.
According to David Hsieh, Vice President of DisplaySearch: "September was a record-breaking month for large-area TFT LCD panels in several segments, including total shipments, shipment area, notebook PC, TV and mini-note panel shipments.
"However, inventory adjustment and seasonal slowdown obviously influenced monitor panel demand, so for the first time since February, monitor panel shipments were down from the previous month.”
Hsieh added: “Sales of LCD TVs in China during the golden week holiday were very strong, indicating that the LCD TV boom in China is not over yet and many brands continue to purchase panels to refill inventories. Moreover, LCD TV demand is picking up in Europe and North America, driving panel shipments to a record high of 15.6 million in September.”
Additional highlights from the DisplaySearch Monthly TFT LCD Shipment Database:
* On a unit basis, Samsung was the leader with 24.3 percent market share, followed closely by LG Display with 24 percent, AUO with 17.9 percent, and CMO with 14.1 percent.
* LCD shipments for portable PCs (including notebook and mini-note) and TVs showed M/M growth—reaching record highs of 18.6 and 15.6 million units, respectively (Table 1).
* In terms of area, large-area TFT LCD shipments reached 8.1 million square meters in September, up 6 percent M/M and 28 percent Y/Y, another record high for LCDs.
* Mini-note PC (5.0-11.6”) panel shipments were 4.4 million in September, achieving an all-time high. AUO and HannStar led this segment with each shipping more than 1 million mini-note panels in September.
Table 1: Monthly Large-Area TFT LCD Panel Shipments and Growth (Millions)
Source: DisplaySearch October 2009 Monthly TFT LCD Shipment Database
Insyde Market launched as first Google Android application Market for netbooks
TAIPEI, TAIWAN: Insyde Software, a leading provider of UEFI-based BIOS for the mobile computing industry, announced the official opening of Insyde Market, a first-of-its-kind applications store designed exclusively for netbook computer users running Google’s Android operating system.
Google’s Android, originally designed for mobile phones is now being used as an “instant-on” environment for netbook computers.
Insyde Market is an online application store that provides Android applications validated for netbook computers. Other markets offer Android applications for mobile phones, but no other market is providing Android apps specifically for personal computers.
The Insyde Market is being launched to support netbooks that run Google’s Android. Earlier this month, Acer released versions of their hugely successful “Aspire One” netbook with a dual-boot configuration supporting both Microsoft Windows and Android.
Android provides the instant-on environment for quick access to the internet, and will run the many applications that can be downloaded from the Market. It’s expected that other notebook and netbook makers will offer Android-based products as well.
“Over the coming months, a wide range of applications will become available,” said Jonathan Joseph EVP at Insyde Software. “This will help to fulfill the promise of simplicity, openness, and limitless possibilities of Android on netbooks that smart-phone users enjoy today,” added Joseph.
Google’s Android, originally designed for mobile phones is now being used as an “instant-on” environment for netbook computers.
Insyde Market is an online application store that provides Android applications validated for netbook computers. Other markets offer Android applications for mobile phones, but no other market is providing Android apps specifically for personal computers.
The Insyde Market is being launched to support netbooks that run Google’s Android. Earlier this month, Acer released versions of their hugely successful “Aspire One” netbook with a dual-boot configuration supporting both Microsoft Windows and Android.
Android provides the instant-on environment for quick access to the internet, and will run the many applications that can be downloaded from the Market. It’s expected that other notebook and netbook makers will offer Android-based products as well.
“Over the coming months, a wide range of applications will become available,” said Jonathan Joseph EVP at Insyde Software. “This will help to fulfill the promise of simplicity, openness, and limitless possibilities of Android on netbooks that smart-phone users enjoy today,” added Joseph.
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