Comments on: iRobot and the Frankenstein Complex http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/ Trusted Insights and Conversations on the Next Wave of Technology Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:36:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Elad http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-596011 Elad Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:49:01 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-596011 <p>Interesting analysis. One possible conclusion is that iRobot might do well to just change their name to something that doesn't involve robots. The Hollywood inspired robot dread is probably directed towards humanoid robots, which the iroomba definitely isn't. The only difference between an iroomba and, say a washing machine, is that the former has to move around your house. A technological achievement, no doubt, but hardly a big step towards strong AI IMHO. Maybe if they called it an "automatic vacuum cleaner", then the mass market, focused on utility rather than novelty, would be moved into buying rather than dreading.</p> Interesting analysis. One possible conclusion is that iRobot might do well to just change their name to something that doesn’t involve robots. The Hollywood inspired robot dread is probably directed towards humanoid robots, which the iroomba definitely isn’t. The only difference between an iroomba and, say a washing machine, is that the former has to move around your house. A technological achievement, no doubt, but hardly a big step towards strong AI IMHO. Maybe if they called it an “automatic vacuum cleaner”, then the mass market, focused on utility rather than novelty, would be moved into buying rather than dreading.

]]> By: Jesse Kopelman http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-590345 Jesse Kopelman Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:31:18 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-590345 <p>I think iRobot's travails have nothing to do with any kind of fear of robots, although that certainly is an imaginative explanation. Their problem is that their robots aren't useful enough. Do they have a Roomba that can climb stairs yet? What about a robot that can do the laundry (including ironing/pressing)? How about a robot that can walk the dog and pick up its poop? How about a robot chauffeur? How about a robot cook? When they actually have such robots, people will want to buy them and, yes, some people will be afraid/revolted by them.</p> I think iRobot’s travails have nothing to do with any kind of fear of robots, although that certainly is an imaginative explanation. Their problem is that their robots aren’t useful enough. Do they have a Roomba that can climb stairs yet? What about a robot that can do the laundry (including ironing/pressing)? How about a robot that can walk the dog and pick up its poop? How about a robot chauffeur? How about a robot cook? When they actually have such robots, people will want to buy them and, yes, some people will be afraid/revolted by them.

]]> By: Daniel Schmelzer http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-590254 Daniel Schmelzer Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:09:10 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-590254 <p>Those short-term issues reflected in the stock price are very real, but have to do with the summer handoff to Roomba revision 2 and the company letting its gross margins deteriorate as the old version sat on the shelf.</p> <p>Regarding Samir's negative comments, we don't know his circumstances or whether he represents a niche or the mainstream. Not everyone needs or wants an iPhone either.</p> <p>But to be clear, I'm not as sure as you are that iRobot's long-term prospects are bright.</p> Those short-term issues reflected in the stock price are very real, but have to do with the summer handoff to Roomba revision 2 and the company letting its gross margins deteriorate as the old version sat on the shelf.

Regarding Samir’s negative comments, we don’t know his circumstances or whether he represents a niche or the mainstream. Not everyone needs or wants an iPhone either.

But to be clear, I’m not as sure as you are that iRobot’s long-term prospects are bright.

]]> By: Kevin Kelleher http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-590180 Kevin Kelleher Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:44:29 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-590180 <p>Daniel,</p> <p>It is too early and it isn't. As I said, iRobot has tremendous long-term potential. But there are short-term issues that need to be resolved to fulfill it. Comments like Samir's - which sadly are not as scarce as they should be - are another example of that.</p> Daniel,

It is too early and it isn’t. As I said, iRobot has tremendous long-term potential. But there are short-term issues that need to be resolved to fulfill it. Comments like Samir’s – which sadly are not as scarce as they should be – are another example of that.

]]> By: Daniel Schmelzer http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-590143 Daniel Schmelzer Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:11:39 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-590143 <p>It's way too early in iRobot's life to draw any conclusions. The company's sales have increased about 1200% over the last 6 years, after all. And the vast majority of its sales so far have been in the US.</p> <p>The ConnectR is a pretty weird robot, but so was R2D2 and we still somehow managed to think it cute after a scene or two.</p> It’s way too early in iRobot’s life to draw any conclusions. The company’s sales have increased about 1200% over the last 6 years, after all. And the vast majority of its sales so far have been in the US.

The ConnectR is a pretty weird robot, but so was R2D2 and we still somehow managed to think it cute after a scene or two.

]]> By: Samir Jalloul http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-589188 Samir Jalloul Mon, 01 Oct 2007 03:38:04 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-589188 <p>I personally feel that this product is much of a novelty than an upright vacuum a floor moper or anything useful to me as a consumer. In plain and simple terms this product is not effective and does not improve my immediate situation!</p> I personally feel that this product is much of a novelty than an upright vacuum a floor moper or anything useful to me as a consumer. In plain and simple terms this product is not effective and does not improve my immediate situation!

]]> By: Kevin Kelleher http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-589095 Kevin Kelleher Mon, 01 Oct 2007 01:41:37 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-589095 <p>True, I ignored it because it was a military contract and I was talking about iRobot's consumer business.</p> <p>The loss of that contract caused IRBT to fall from $24 to $18, but considering that the stock once traded at $37 there's something else going on.</p> True, I ignored it because it was a military contract and I was talking about iRobot’s consumer business.

The loss of that contract caused IRBT to fall from $24 to $18, but considering that the stock once traded at $37 there’s something else going on.

]]> By: Raj http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-588861 Raj Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:41:06 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/09/30/irobot-and-the-frankenstein-complex/#comment-588861 <p>Author seems to have totally ignored the fact that iRobot lost a defense contract to its competitor RobotFx. The value of contract is 280 million dollars. IMHO the movement in the stock price seems to be a reaction to that.</p> <p>(http://www2.fbo.gov/spg/USA/STRICOM/W900KK/Awards/W900KK%2D07%2DD%2D0004LnAll%5FCLINS.html)</p> <p>Moreover iRobot has slapped RobotFX with a lawsuit accusing it of stealing Intellectual property. More details can be found in following link</p> <p>http://www.xconomy.com/2007/09/24/judge-asks-for-more-information-on-venue-issue-in-irobot-robotic-fx-case/</p> Author seems to have totally ignored the fact that iRobot lost a defense contract to its competitor RobotFx. The value of contract is 280 million dollars. IMHO the movement in the stock price seems to be a reaction to that.

(http://www2.fbo.gov/spg/USA/STRICOM/W900KK/Awards/W900KK%2D07%2DD%2D0004LnAll%5FCLINS.html)

Moreover iRobot has slapped RobotFX with a lawsuit accusing it of stealing Intellectual property. More details can be found in following link

http://www.xconomy.com/2007/09/24/judge-asks-for-more-information-on-venue-issue-in-irobot-robotic-fx-case/

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