Everywhere a visitor turns at this year's CEATEC, Japan's biggest high-tech exhibition, smartphones are being used to connect to everything from TVs and microwaves to air conditioners and automobiles.
Not to miss out, NTT DoCoMo Inc. is adopting this strategy in a big way. Japan's largest cellphone carrier is introducing a robot concierge that communicates verbally with its master in addition to plucking personal data from the user's smartphone.
The prototype, called Shabette Robo, is designed to provide helpful everyday information and entertainment, such as recommending what music to listen to or the fastest way to get somewhere and tourist information before leaving, based on the user's smartphone data stored on the Internet.