Don’t Talk To Me, Talk To My Robot

The future of technology simply overwhelms me at times. For instance this Nokia Nia project that designer Sebastian Müller undertook along with the Nokia Research Center in Helsinki. Nia is a robotic communication device that strives to make everyday communication more intuitive. It’s that kinda device that takes care of your e-mails, messages, calls or news instantaneously. It adapts to your needs and executes operations as per your requirements.

It features face recognition thereby providing individualistic services and the visual tags on the display further help in customizing the unit. The interdependent streak of the unit is evident as it is able to charge itself in a “charging shelter” autonomously. The biggest innovation of this concept is the intuitive way of controlling it. Depending upon how far away you are from it, Nia is able to switch between gesture, voice and touchscreen mode in a jiffy. In the touchscreen mode, the robot can be used like a tablet PC for more complex tasks.

To sum it up I think Nia is more like a cross between a robot, comp, phone and an RSS system. Something like The Absent Minded Professor had in his Flubber story. The only difference, this one’s more advanced in its communicative features and will be apt for the gizmo-centric generation.

Designer: Sebastian Müller


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Radhika Seth
Radhika Seth is a design and technology writer with over 18 years of experience covering products, innovation, and the ideas shaping design. She serves on the jury of international design competitions, including the iF Design Award, and hosts Yanko Design’s Design Mindset podcast. A former Ogilvy advertising professional, she has also taught Communication and Design Journalism, bringing together her experience across design, storytelling, brands, and media.