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In 1982, personal computers were beige, boxy, and built for engineers. They were powerful, but uninviting. Few people knew what they were for, or why they might need one. It took more than just better processors to turn computers into objects of mass adoption; it took design. Design transformed the computer from an obscure tool into an essential companion. It gave form to possibility. It helped people trust, understand, and eventually fall in love with machines. Apple ushered in a new era of human-centered computer when it released the Macintosh in 1984. Design is the next frontier in robotics Jacob Hennessey-Rubin, executive director of NY Robotics, a non-profit that serves as the hub for robotics innovation in the New York and Tri-State region, recently told me that robotics is having its 1982 moment. Like the early personal computer, robots have the processing power but not the consumer-friendly design. The technology is here. Robots can move, perceive, and make decisions in complex environments. AI enables them to generalize across tasks, understand natural language, and collaborate with humans. The building blocks are ready, but the experience is not. Most robots still resemble their industrial ancestors: articulated arms from factory floors or the humanoid silhouettes of science fiction. These platforms have enabled impressive mechanical advances and have been created to operate effectively in human-built environments. Theyve also helped us to imagine what robots could be and remain valuable in many contexts. But as robotics expand into new domains, from home to healthcare to creative expression, we have the opportunity to grow our design vocabulary and reimagine how these systems take shape across new environments and experiences. Robotics has long been seen as an engineering challenge. But the next breakthrough wont be technical, it will be experiential. To unlock the next wave of adoption, robots must be designed not just to work, but to live alongside us, in our homes, hospitals, restaurants, and stores. Our approach must be mindful of how their presence shapes the wind-down routine, the medical procedure, the restaurant kitchen, or the customer interaction, and intentional in shaping both their actions and their stillness. If robots are to be part of the messy, meaningful, deeply human moments that define our days, they must earn their place through thoughtful, human-centered design. Design is how we help robots fit into life. We believe these five design principles will define robotics next era. Design for context Robotic forms should emerge from context, not from the machine. Their expression, movement, and interaction style should reflect and shape the space and culture. In practice, they might borrow cues from furniture, chefs tools, classic cars, or other familiar elementsnot to mimic them, but to evoke emotion, convey meaning, and set the emotional tone. In a social setting, a robot might use animation techniques to express its state gently and intuitively; in a clinic, it might signal clarity and precision through forms reminiscent of medical instruments. Match capability with expression When a robot looks too human, we expect too much. And when it looks too mechanical, we trust too little. The sweet spot? Forms that are honest, clear expressions of their true capabilities. Trust begins with legible forms, which lead to more open and meaningful engagement. Design for natural interaction Great interaction goes both ways. Robots shouldnt just perform tasks; they should communicate intent and respond to ours with clarity. Movements, gestures, lights, and sounds should feel intuitive and appropriate, helping people to understand what a robot is doing and how to engage with it. At the same time, todays robots are better equipped than ever to understand us, they recognize our actions, focus, and even unspoken cues. This opens the door to more natural, multimodal interaction, where people can use voice, touch, gesture, or even demonstration depending on what feels most intuitive. Instead of rigid commands, we can teach robots by showing them how we would do it ourselves. When communication flows both ways, robots feel less like machines and more like capable collaborators. Design for collaboration Collaboration begins with coexistence. As robots become part of our environments, we must design them to move with our rhythms, respond to our cues, and respect their context. The most impactful robots will work with us, even when they replace aspects of what we do. We must also consider how they collaborate amongst themselves, adding to the ecosystem and accomplishing more together, rather than competing with it. Automate the drudgery, not the joy As author Joanna Maciejewska quipped: I want my AI to do my laundry and dishes so I can do art and writing, not the other way around. Let’s preserve the things that make us feel human and automate the things that make us feel like machines. From machines to cohabitants When robots stop being tools and start becoming cohabitants, everything changes. We start to ask new questions: How might the presence of robots reshape our sense of space and privacy? What rituals are worth preserving as appliances become more intelligent? What new roles can robots play beyond utility and across care and companionship? What design languages do robots demand, in form, tone, and gesture? The answers wont come from code alone. Theyll come from design. Just as Apple redefined computing through design, the teams that rethink the why of robotics, not just the how, will lead the next wave of human-centered robotics, made for everyday lifenot in the distant future, but right now. Were already living with robots. Its time we start designing like it. Thanks to my colleagues Tom Frejowski and Katie Lim for their collaboration and contributions to this article. Inna Lobel is head of industrial design at frog North America.
Category:
E-Commerce
Amazon.com forecast third-quarter sales above market estimates on Thursday but failed to live up to lofty expectations for its Amazon Web Services cloud computing unit after rivals handily beat expectations. Shares fell by more than 2% in after-market trading after finishing regular trading up 1.7% to $234.11. Both Google-parent Alphabet and Microsoft posted big cloud computing revenue gains earlier this month. AWS profit margins also contracted. Amazon said they were 32.9% in the second quarter, compared with 39.5% in this year’s first quarter and 35.5% a year ago. The second-quarter margin results were at their lowest level since the final quarter of 2023. AWS, the cloud unit, reported a 17.5% increase in revenue to $30.9 billion, edging past expectations of $30.77 billion. After strong growth from Microsoft and Google, “AWS is lingering at 17% growth,” said Gil Luria, a D.A. Davidson analyst. “That is very disappointing, even to the point where if Microsoft’s Azure continues to grow at these rates, it may overtake AWS as the largest cloud provider by the end of next year.” The company expects total net sales to be between $174.0 billion and $179.5 billion in the third quarter, compared with analysts’ average estimate of $173.08 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Blockbuster cloud revenue growth at Microsoft and Alphabet’s Google raised expectations for AWS, the world’s largest cloud provider. Both Microsoft and Alphabet cited massive demand for their cloud computing services to boost their already huge capital spending, but also noted they still faced capacity constraints that limited their ability to meet demand. AWS represents a small part of Amazon’s total revenue, but it is a key driver of profits, typically accounting for about 60% of Amazon’s overall operating income. While Amazon has poured billions into AI infrastructure, analysts have said the lack of a strong AI model from AWS is causing some concerns that the company could be trailing rivals in AI development, analysts said. President Donald Trump’s tariffs have dampened the U.S. retail industry, leaving major retailers and consumer goods companies scrambling to protect their margins or resort to price increases, all while ensuring consumer demand remains intact. Trump has said the levies will bring manufacturing power and jobs back to the U.S. Investors have been closely watching Amazon’s e-commerce unit for any signs that tariff-related uncertainty has dashed consumer confidence. U.S. data showed consumer spending rose moderately in June. Analysts had said Amazon’s focus on low prices, quick delivery and the sheer number of product categories has helped cement its position as the No. 1 e-commerce retailer for U.S. consumers, giving it an edge over rivals. Amazon has said it was pushing suppliers to pull forward inventories to ensure supply and keep prices as low as possible. Still, prices for goods made in China and sold on Amazon.com have been rising faster than overall inflation, Reuters reported last month. Deborah Mary Sophia and Greg Bensinger, Reuters
Category:
E-Commerce
While the old proverb every dog will have its day was not directly referring to surfing canines, we are going to ride that metaphor like a wave anyway. The 2025 World Dog Surfing Championships Best Waves is an adorable television competition airing tonight (Friday, August 1) at 12:00 a.m. ET / 9:00 p.m. PT on ESPN2. It’s part of the network’s larger “ESPN8 The Ocho” programming, which celebrates obscure sports. Lets dive into all the details. A brief history of surfing The sport of surfing is said to date back to ancient Polynesian culture. The Polynesian people were masterful wayfinders who made their way to Hawaii. On these islands, the sport took root and was incorporated into religious ceremonies. When did dogs start surfing? While we will probably never know who first decided to put a dog on a surfboard, it is not a new phenomenon. Film footage from the 1930s caught a terrier named Night Hawk who loved to ride the waves. The following decade, a good boy named Rusty from California graced the pages of National Geographic. The organization behind the World Championships for Dog Surfing claims that the concept of the sport originated on the California coast. The act of seeing a furry friend hang ten is so adorable, it’s hard to resist watching it. What is ESPN8: The Ocho? Popular sports cable channel ESPN agrees and will air the 2025 World Dog Surfing Championships Best Waves as part of its ESPN8: The Ocho programming on ESPN2. Every August, ESPN2 turns into ESPN8 The Ocho to celebrate obscure sports such as dog surfing. The genesis of the idea to feature unconventional sports came from the 2004 film Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. ESPN executives took the parody channel featured in the movie and ran with it. The tradition started in 2017 and is still going strong today. What is the ‘best waves’ special about? The 2025 World Dog Surfing Championships Best Waves is a video competition hosted by Kylie Speer and A.K. Crump. Judges get to critique the pups finest momentsthere are no wipeouts here. Canines are divided into four categories. The first three are based on size and the last one focuses on human/dog duos. How can I stream the surfing dogs TV special? To see all the canine athletics, tune into ESPN2 at midnight tonight ET (9 p.m. PT). If you’re a cord-cutter, several live-TV streaming services offer the cable channel. Those include: Sling TVs Orange plan Hulu + Live TV Fubo YouTube TV If you find yourself in Pacifica, California, on Saturday, August 2, you could even catch some dogs in action. The live in-person competition begins at 9 a.m., with additional programming such as a pet wellness fair and pet adoptions scheduled throughout the day. Visit the World Dog Surfing website for more information, then head out and get some sand between your toes. Cowabunga, pups!
Category:
E-Commerce
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