Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. News

Pillo is a ‘home health robot’ that seems too good to be true

By

pillo home health robot
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Pill dispensers don’t have to remain as boring as they traditionally have been. In fact, an Indiegogo campaign has been started for Pillo, a “home health robot” that basically combines the functions of a pill dispenser with Siri, machine learning, and two creepy always-watching eyes.

According to the company behind the device, Pillo uses facial recognition to identify different individuals, and then dispenses the appropriate pills to those people at the time they’re supposed to be taken. Not only that, but if it sees that you may have forgotten to take your pills, it will remind you to take them before you walk away. Pretty cool, huh?

Recommended Videos

Apart from those large claims, Pillo can also answer questions about health, sync data with your phone and smartwatch, and even set up video calls with health professionals. And all these features are combined in a small robot that sits on a table all day.

Pillo - Your Personal Home Health Robot (Live on Indiegogo!)

As a report from The Verge points out, Pillo seems a little too good to be true — that is, is it really possible that the company behind Pillo has managed to pack all that cutting-edge technology into a robot that now costs under $500 (and will retail for $600)?

Related

If Pillo truly were capable of delivering the tech it promises, wouldn’t it be shooting for more than $75,000? After all, considering the success of Amazon Echo there could be a huge market for something like Pillo. Not only that, but the $75,000 goal is flexible — even if it doesn’t raise all the funds, all the money will still go straight to Pillo Health. Pillo says that it will reimburse you if the goal isn’t reached, and that the flexible goal was only chosen so customers could pay with credit cards, but it’s still important to exercise caution.

Of course, that’s not to say that there is anything dubious about this campaign — just that you should be cautious before investing in such a lofty project. Pillo has a year to deliver on its intentions, and says that it will ship in June 2017. When it is launched, it will cost $600, but if you back the campaign now you’ll get one for as low as $270.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper
Contributor
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
Amazon Echo vs. Apple HomePod: Which has better speakers?
The Amazon Echo 4 on a counter.

If you haven't jumped into the smart speaker pool, it’s probably because it’s a tough decision. Choosing a smart speaker isn't just about picking a model with the best sound quality or the color that matches your living room. Smart speakers also have major smart home control properties and can play nicely with some music services, streaming TV channels (if you opt for a speaker with a screen), or home security systems.

A smart speaker opens the door for expanding your smart home portal. Since most of us won’t buy a smart home speaker to work with a Ring Video Doorbell and another to manage Apple’s HomeKit via your iPhone, you'll want to choose carefully. For a lot of buyers, that comes down to a choice between Apple HomePod or Amazon Echo (and if you're short on space it might just be HomePod Mini versus Echo Dot).

Read more
The best work-from-home apps for Android and iOS
hp office in a box work learn from home solutions

There are two kinds of office-based professionals: One prefers to work on-site despite the headaches of commuting, set hours, and wardrobe requirements, because working in-person with colleagues can't be replicated. The other prefers to work at home, eschewing a commute, and preferring solitude or the company of nonhuman co-workers. According to Buffer’s 2019 State of Remote Report, despite having the choice to work anywhere they want, 84% of remote employees wouldn't have it any other way.

Whichever type you are, it's likely that these days you're spending more time working at home than you expected. One oft-cited problem is the struggle to unplug after work. Productivity is key, as when projects take longer, they start invading your personal and family time. Communication and collaboration while working in different locations can mean people struggle to stay on top of fast-moving projects. Motivation can also take a hit when you remove the pressure of looking and being busy.

Read more
Smart home technology needs to be more private to handle personal health
A digital security lock.

The privacy of the smart home has been a point of concern since the concept first came about. Many strides have been made toward keeping the smart home private, particularly with regard to always-listening devices and security cameras. That said, the question must be asked: Is it enough? Smart home technology continues to grow in capability, but in doing so, it gathers ever-more information about the user.

This holds particularly true now that CES 2021 is in the rearview. The previous year was one of increased awareness and focus on personal health, which led to the creation of numerous products that help users stay on top of potential problems.

Read more