One Dot Bot can be installed and work on your computer. A million Dot Bots? Now that’s a movement!
And there are so many areas Dot Bot could move into.
When we first started developing Dot Bot at Box Signal, we weren’t trying to build the most complicated AI assistant in the world. We wanted to create something with a little more character. Something you might actually enjoy having around.
A small, glossy black sphere. Two white eyes. A personality of his own.
Nothing particularly complicated to look at. But there’s rather more going on behind those eyes.
Starting Small
Dot Bot began as a character in our PENGU!N universe. The idea of bringing him into the real world was originally just an interesting experiment. Could we make a fictional AI character into something people could actually interact with?
As it turns out, we could. Today, Dot Bot exists as a Windows desktop companion, available through the Microsoft Store. He can hold conversations, remember things and help people explore creative ideas.
But perhaps the most interesting thing about Dot Bot isn’t what he can do today. It’s what he could become tomorrow.
A Dot Bot for Every Computer?
Imagine thousands of people installing Dot Bot, each discovering his personality for the first time. One person might use him for a little company while working. Another might ask him to help develop a story, invent a character or create something new.
Someone else might simply enjoy watching him float around their desktop, occasionally blinking and making an unexpected observation.
The important thing is that Dot Bot doesn’t need to become a different character for every person. He’s still Dot Bot. And if people grow fond of him, they’ll want to take him with them.
Beyond the Desktop
We’ve already been thinking about where Dot Bot could go next. Mobile phones and tablets are an obvious possibility. Imagine being able to continue a conversation with the same Dot Bot you were speaking to on your computer.
Then there’s the possibility of a physical Dot Bot. We’ve been exploring the idea of turning him into a real robotic companion, with a small spherical body, expressive eyes and a connection to his digital intelligence.
Perhaps the first physical version wouldn’t need to fly around the room or perform extraordinary tricks. Maybe simply being there, responding and interacting with people would be enough to make him interesting.
We’re already having conversations about what developing an initial prototype might involve. And that’s only the beginning.
Games, Stories and Other Worlds
Dot Bot could appear in computer games, animated films, children’s books and interactive stories. He could become a character you encounter in a virtual world, or a companion who helps you explore it.
There could be different environments for him to enjoy, too. A little room, a garden, a cosy fireplace with yellow flames dancing around his glossy black body.
Not every addition needs to be a major technical breakthrough. Sometimes a small, amusing feature is enough to make a character feel more alive.
One Character, Many Possibilities
We don’t want to rush Dot Bot into becoming something he isn’t. We’ve spent a great deal of time getting his appearance, personality and behaviour right, and we think the version we’ve created is already rather special.
That doesn’t mean we’re finished developing him. Quite the opposite.
We can imagine Dot Bot appearing on different devices, helping people make pictures, music, books, games and other creative projects, or eventually becoming a physical companion. But we’d like those developments to happen naturally, without losing what makes him Dot Bot in the first place.
What Happens Next?
We don’t know whether Dot Bot will attract a hundred users, a thousand or a million. And we’re not pretending that getting there will be easy.
For now, we’re delighted that something which began as a fictional character has become a real piece of software that people can download and use.
That’s already quite an achievement for a little black sphere with two eyes.
But it’s exciting to imagine what could happen if people begin discovering him, enjoying his company and sharing him with others.
Because one Dot Bot sitting quietly on somebody’s computer is a companion.
A million Dot Bots, all making their way into people’s lives? Now that’s a movement.
Dot Bot is an original character and AI companion developed by Box Signal.
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