Without a doubt, the science fiction genre of books and movies have inspired or predicted many of today's advancements in technology. But one of the things all of us are still longing for is a sophisticated digital butler with a quirky attitude to take care of all our menial tasks. We may be far from having our own artificially intelligent Jarvis, but the Ubi kickstarter project is a great step in the right direction.
Short for Ubiquitous Computer, Ubi is an Android 4.0-powered personal assistant device that docks itself into any power outlet of your home. Much like Apple's Siri or its competitors, Ubi will act as a digital, voice-activated assistant capable of performing tasks such as searching the internet for information, calling a contact, recording a memo or setting an alarm.
The device is equipped with an 800MHz ARM CPU, 1GB of RAM, WiFi/Bluetooth compatibility and a USB slot. In addition, the device includes sensors for temperature, humidity, air pressure and ambient light. Like other digital assistants, Ubi features a synthesized voice but also comes with multiple colored LED lighting that can be programmed to light up for notifications such as emails or text messages.
So what makes Ubi different from just using Siri in your home? Unlike other smartphone assistants, the Ubi project works on an open platform, opening the door for companies and individuals to create limitless Ubi-capable devices and software. With a pledge of $189 or more, you can reserve your own Ubi unit on the Kickstarter project page.
