Keecker mobile entertainment system

Posted By Ibropalic on Nov 8, 2014 | 0 comments

Behold! a Google Project Provides Families Continuous, Effortless Entertainment

Google has employed many a genius engineer, but Pierre Lebeau, formerly Management at Google Technologies in Paris, might have possibly struck virtual gold with his ground breaking idea to design Keecker, a continuous, virtually effortless, mobile entertainment system. Mind you, the idea to design an entire home entertainment system has been evaluated many times. Sadly, the most that has come of it has been televisions in every room, with surround sound, and black boxes. The Keecker takes home entertainment to the next level. The question was “how”.

Google Hums Around the House

It didn’t take long to determine a mobile robot, controllable via remote, would be the ideal solution. This gave Google a unique, multi room centerpiece that is user controlled, and that can project movies, television shows, music and more. The overall gist was somewhat like Google, meets Rosie the Robot, and creates an egg shaped robotic baby that humms around the house projecting images and sounds via user instruction.

Though it looks and feels pretty much like one a robot, Keecker’s designer is not fond of that term. Unlike Rosie, this little guy does not dust, sweep or do dishes. Instead, this really smart egg is a mobile, communal computer that is 16 inches wide and approximately 25 inches tall, for home entertainment purposes.

How Does Keecker Work?

Keecker’s introduction to our homes is via a 360-degree camera on it oval head. The camera instantly maps out each room in our homes. Once it is finished touring the house, the proud owner simply names each room. Keecker will move into the named room via the push of a remote. The little bot that cleans, Roomba was somewhat an inspiration, except Keecker was designed to be smart enough NOT to bump into walls.

Keecker Communicates

There is more to Keecker then a projector and entertainment system; it can also use the camera and sensors, as a mobile security system. These egg shaped computers can do a whole array of interesting feats such as detect motion and monitor CO2 levels, temperature and humidity.

Another feature in the design is directed towards communication. Keecker has a microphone which allows it to accept and project video calls, along with receiving voice commands. Pair it with your phone using Bluetooth and Leabeau says it will follow you around during a call.

Android Powered

Ironically, Keecker gets energy from the same type of quadcore mobile chip found in popular smart devices. This gives us the ability to utilize any available Android App the Play Store has to offer. Unfortunately, some apps do not blend well with the native interface. This forces users to use a mouse like curser that is not user friendly, in order to click within the app. Keecker is state of the art, so the hope is that app designers will create some new and usable apps.

Great Light with Questionable Resolution

Those expecting high resolution, such as on a tablet or other device, might not be pleased with the 1,280 x 800 resolution. However, designers tried to make up for it with the brightness of the 1,000-lumen light that allows visibility even in a lit room. This is for those that want to experience the freedom of watching TV on any wall in the house, AND want the added bonus of a projector that can stream apps the same way.

Production Deductions

Keecker is on the floor at KickStarter with hopes of raising $10,000 or so in investments to modernize this mobile masterpiece. Currently Keecker is being referred to a home pod, but that doesn’t sound very interesting. The cost is a bit out of bounds for any average income, at around $3,000 to $4000 per unit. Fortunately, designers are determining how to make it more cost friendly… and pondering a new name.

Noble Beginning

Back in the 4th Century, Greeks philosophers Aristotle and Euclid both spoke of projector like pin hole cameras in writings. In the 10th-century, a book called “Book of Optics” was published by Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen), in 1021, this discussed the now and the future of the tiny hole creating the illusion of the image. In the 5th century BC, Mo Jing, Mohist philosopher in ancient China wrote about the effect of inverted images forming through tiny pinholes.

The mobile camera drew attention due to a nun holding whap appeared to be a latern/camera in a drawing by Johannes de Fontana back in 1420.