#Household Robot Market

[semiconductorsandelectronics]

Household Robots Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report by Offering, Type (Domestic, Entertainment & Leisure), Distribution Channel, Application (Vacuuming, Lawn Mowing, Companionship, Elderly and Handicap Assistance, Robot Toys and Hobby Systems) and Region – Global Forecast to 2028

[chandupalle]

[211 Pages Report] Household robots market size is valued at USD 10.3 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to USD 24.5 billion by 2028; growing at a CAGR of 18.8% from 2023 to 2028. A growing focus on improving the endurance capability of robots is a major opportunity for the household robots market. Currently these robots can operate for a short period of 1-2 hours when they are fully charged. Companies have the opportunity to work on charging capabilities and get an edge over others in the market.

[majingojira]

Complete List of Public Domain McGuffin Materials

I wanted a clean collection of these based on @titleknown original post, just for ease of reference and adding a few along the way.

Also, HAPPY PUBLIC DOMAIN DAY!

Cavorite - An Anti-Gravity Metal from First Men On The Moon by H.G. Wells.

Hihi'irokane - From "The Takenouchi Documents" (1935). A super durable metal that never rusts and is also a conductor of heat. In other words, it's Minecraft Red Stone.

Taduki - From the Alan Quartermain stories, a drug that allows users to relive past lives via smoking. It's a great framing device, and was used as one in the original stories.

The Absolute - from "The Absolute At Large". Byproduct of a matter-to-energy conversion. Implied to be the element of 'Divinity'.

Eitr - Source of all life in Norse Mythology. The mixing of the FIres of Muspelheim and the ice of Nifilheim -- but also a deadly poison to the earth.

Fleury's Gas - Rudyard Kipling's super gas from his story "With the Night Mail." Used to run Zepplins. It expands explosively fast as a gas and is both powerful and rigid. It can be liquified with Fleury's Ray. Produces a lot of power and acts as Hydrogen. Could be used very easily in Neumatics (ROBOTS!)

Tulu Metal - Lovecraft invention. rare space-metal. Extremely magnetic. Speculatively, it could do space-warping weirdness (given Lovecraft stories, that tracks).

Abyssal Gold - The Gold of the Deep Ones. It's whitish-gold alloy with a weird lustrousness. No special properties, it's just weird. And rather pretty. Rare type of gold are sure to go for a higher market value.

Alkahest/The Universal Solvent - Alchemy dissolver. It dissolved/breaks apart whatever it comes across.

Jeckyll's Compound - Most people use the Hyde formula as shorthand to make Hulk-knockoffs, but the reality of it more than that. Hyde is not just a coalescence of a man's "Dark Impulses" but a chemical 'disguise' to allow a person to indulge in whatever a person wants.

The Red Weed - A plant native to Mars from War of the Worlds. It tastes metallic, absorbs water, grows extremely quickly, and is bioluminescent.

Starlite - A purportedly heatproof material. Up to 90% organic.

Rossum's Protoplasm - Rossum's Universal Robots, the McGuffin that makes the robots move and behave.

Liquid Electricity - Glowing energy liquid. It was a common belief about Electricity in the early days, so it ended up in a lot of stories.

Herbet West's Re-Animation Fluid - From Lovecraft's Herbet West: Reanimator. It chemically kickstarts the mechanical process of life in organic tissue.

Solarnite/Solarbenite/Solarite - Plan 9 From Outer Space. It causes light particles to... explode.

Vril - The life energies harnessed by an underground utopian civilization. The energies are controlled by staves and there's different type of staff to control Vril in different ways. It can be used to heal, to destroy, or to enhance organic material.

Herakleophorbia IV - The Food of the Gods of H.G. Well. Organisms that ingest this chemical quickly grow to 5 to 7 times their normal size. This is used primarily on livestock to increase their food yield, but it naturally gets eaten by pest animals. Many common household pest insects are now the size of a person's thumb or their hand! A rat is now 6 to 9ft long. And if some jerk feeds it to an Alligator... it now as large as a blue whale.

The New Accelerator - From the HG Wells story from the same name. Within the story, Prof. Gibberne creates a drug that enables the user’s mind and body to gain temporary super-speed, so that everything in the world appears frozen solid as time appears to slow.

There are downsides to being a 1901 version of the Flash however. Users are still subject to friction, so moving while on the drug causes your clothes to get singed (this same friction making it impossible to breathe is ignored, however).

Devil's Foot Root - From the Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes story The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot. A poison made from an African root, which vaporizes when heated, leading to those exposed going mad or dying after inhaling the fumes.

 Basically, works like the Scarecrow’s fear toxin from Batman, and is considered rare enough that someone has to specifically use some from a stolen from the collection of someone who had to gather it personally as an explorer. At least, at the time.

The White Powder - The novel of The White Powder by Arthur Machen, wherein a student is prescribed a drug made from a mysterious white flakey substance. His sister begins to worry about his sudden changes in mood and personality, which is only compounded when his prolonged abuse of the titular White Powder causes the student to literally melt.

One of Machen’s more famous stories, would go on to be listed as among Lovecraft’s favorite's and inspiring future writers, from the finale of Lovecraft’s Cool Air to one Stephen King story where a tainted six pack turns a dude into a blob monster.

[soraka-in-warhammer40k]

I'm always fascinated when someone at the club rants about "how they just invented T'au to cash on them anime weebs", completly oblivious to the time and culture of their creation. So T'au came out first in 2001, and were obviously conceptualized some years prior, which puts them into the late 90s in their original design. This is slowly hitting "the majority of the populance has no relevant internet access whatsoever" levels of "barbaric analog ages".

So imagine where GW sits in the late 90s - its a small studio somewhere in England barely coming to touch with the first elements of the internet, with the most dominant medium being television which... is not really about "exotic" shows from the other end of the world? Those get ported over when they have proven to be a hit in their own country mostly.

And without the internet as we know it today, the anime community just... did not exist. You have to understand that the whole concept of online anime culture centred around piracy, fansubs, fanart, and the creation of the term "weeabo" was a mid-to-late 00s thing, and it took almost another decade before "weeb" was somewhat reclaimed and no longer an online-slur.

There was a whole generation that grew up with (often horribly localized) japanese shows on TV (Pokemon, Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon) which came over with some delay to their release in Japan. By the time this generation came to congregate into online spaces and form any sort of fan-identity and culture, the T'au and their battlesuits had already been a design over a decade old.

"But wait isn't Gundam from the 70s"? Yes, that is totally correct. However, this is the one glaring mistake people make: you cannot compare modern day media content circulation around the globe to the analog ages. Those of us who remember these barbaric analog times know how it was: you just did not know stuff existed. If it was not in the newspaper or on the telly, it might as well not exist unless you knew a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy.

Sure, the Internet was slowly becoming a thing that found widespread use, but it would still take a while - not to mention the technical limitations. No streaming episodes. You start the download (if you can find someone who hosted the file of a series you had to know even existed first) somewhere around lunch, to hopefully get something to watch in the afternoon. Oh and also that blocked the household's phone-line and if the download cancelled for whatever reason then it was back to square one. Under such conditions, the online community we know today could simply not exist, as the alternative was importing stuff from the other end of the world for quite the money, or hoping a really shoddy localized VCR-tape ended up at your Blockbuster-equivalent.

Of course there was anime before that time, even those regarded absolute classics in the west, but those mostly achieved that rank over here in retrospective. When in the late 00s people wanted to watch stuff and had the ability to do so they shared what was considered "the classics" first (shared to the best of their ability with one episode cut into 5 parts on youtube with sometimes very questionable subtitles).

So even if we assume there was someone at GW in the 90s who was a total "proto-weeb" and Gudam-fan, there was literally no reason to "make knock-off Gundams" because the miniscule western wargaming audience SIMPLY DID NOT KNOW THE STUFF.

You can't make a marketing ploy to reference something your average consumers have never heard off. If anything, the creation of the T'au as a robotic-centred faction was inevitable: they needed a design that could hold their own in the setting, but Necrons hogged the full-robot niche, Imperials were weird cyborgs, Orks the "madman-scrap-tech", and Nids the "biotech". The only thing left here was "not full robot but also very clean and efficient" - and just like that, the Battlesuits and Drones were born.

It was only in later years when the Internet had come into full swing where they decided to go full-suit with releases such as the Riptide, but if we talk about the OG design of T'au and the first decade? Nothing to do with anime or "fishing for weebs". The fish would not be coming to that spot for almost a decade, and it would take a bit more before their numbers were plentyful enough to make it worth casting a line out.

[mexsia]

Ok, I had an idea for books or series here in Tumblr.

You see, I’m originally from Mexico and now live in Canada (which is the reason of why I know how to write in English), and since entering the “humans are weird” trope, I created two stories:

“Alien among aliens” and “From another Planet”.

I haven’t developed the stories enough, but here are a bit of sypnosis:

Alien among Aliens:

Xóchitl, a fifteen year old girl who ran away from an abusive household, ended up being captured by an alien spaceship and was sold on the black market as a slave. Ending in a “Super-Earth” millions of light years away from her home, Xóchitl must survive enough to find a way to get out and return home. But like in any story, things are not so easy, for she ends up becoming the “babysitter” of two alien children who are from royalty and she’s is being watched on constantly since it known very little about her specie.

The longer she stays the weaker she will get to be able to go back to her beautiful Earth, for time works differently in the “Super-Earth” and she can feel herself becoming older. Will Xóchitl make it back before her time runs out? Or will she be stuck in that planet for the rest of her life?

From Another Planet:

Huitzil lived ate, slept, played and grew like a human. But he wasn’t one. He was from another especies from another planet. He was thrown out of the planet after being considered a “no-future-baby” and in a “defected” robot, who immediately took safety and got itself lost among the stars. The robot, who was called “BB-P1N-8,” ended up on earth due to a failure in his propeller and used his own body to protect the offspring he was carrying within himself. Next thing the offspring and the robot knew, was that a female human took them in her home in Jalisco, Mexico. Growing up with the craziest kind of humans, Huitzil grew to become a bit crazy himself and was not afraid no show it. Not even when his existence became known to everyone on Earth and Mars.

Years after, The Galactic assembly were having a meeting on Huitzil’s birth planet and due to the dumb curiosity of a human, the existence of Huitzil and his “disappearance” became known. The Galactic assembly will want Huitzil to join his true especies but he will have zero interest in it. Will Huitzil live in peace among his humans, or will he be forced to accept go back to the planet from where he was thrown out in the first place?

*Note: Super Earths are Earth like planets, but more bigger. Some examples are these:

[multiversal-madness]

Professor Layton Au - Pandora's Call

((I have made an intro post for this au before but it's been a while and things have changed so here we go))

The Pandora's Call Au follows the idea of pairing the games (+ the movie and crossover) and merging them together, combining the stories and mysteries while changing some other story details to fill the gaps left behind.

The namesake of this Au (and the first combination to be created), Pandora's Call is the combination of Pandora's Box and Spectre's Call.

It follows the Professor and his new assistant Emmy as they investigate the Elysian box. They follow its trail to the ghost town Folsense where they must uncover the secrets behind the spectres — two large and formless entities that fight in the streets — the Spirit — a figure commanding the animals of the town into harassing visitors — and the Golden Kingdom — a castle rumoured to be buried beneath Folsense originating from the Azran.

The Black Ravens are instead the Raven's Guild located in Dropstone and while they do participate in the market, they're more so 'adventurers' that oversee most of the travel to the ghost town.

Arianna isn't sick, Tony doesn't dress up as Seamus and Evan Barde doesn't die, they live in Dropstone together peacefully.

Instead of the manatee like creature she is in canon, Loosha is instead a Quetzalcoatlus that flew out of the Golden Kingdom when she was small enough for Luke to hold.

And Luke Triton is instead Lord Luke Herzen, the grandson of Duke Anton Herzen, raised by his grandfather in Folsense with his only contact with the world outside Folsense being when he uses the animals of Folsense to scare away outsiders.

The other game pairings in this Au are as follows:

Eternal Diva + Curious Village — Eternal Village

St Mystere exists on the island of Ambrosia, the looming tower is mixed with Descole's castle and the Whistler and Reinhold families are combined. Flora and Melina are sisters and Melina's consciousness is put into a robot after she dies.

Miracle Mask + PLvsAA — Mysterious Mask

Labyrinthia is its own world accessible through the Akbadain ruins which is where Randall ended up when he fell, the magic is real (but bound to that one area) and the one behind the Masked Gentleman is the Storyteller (Descole isn't in this one due to Dahlia related injuries).

Lost Future + Azran Legacy — Lost Legacy

Mostly follows the plot of Azran Legacy, but Bill Hawks has disappeared in a time machine related incident and someone claiming to be Luke from the future joins them on their journey. Targent makes it to each location first so they have to use a rudimentary time machine that can only go back a few days to let them collect the eggs first. Also Clive is Luke's half brother, though he has to wear a purple wig to cover his blonde hair.

I do have some extra details for what happens outside the main 'games' as well, though this post is getting long so I'll put them under the cut for anyone who's interested (sorry it's also pretty long):

Clark and Brenda have been dead for around 10 years by the time Pandora's Call starts (though Brenda isn't quite gone), though Clark's death was confirmed while Brenda went missing on her own accord and was presumed dead

Losing Clark and then Brenda in short succession then only a few years later losing Claire left Hershel in a very bad place, he withdrew more so than before and became more reckless in the cases he'd pursue

After being beaten up by the government, Lucille and Roland were worried about him only having them and his mentor Dr Schrader to support him so Lucille called the Ledore household and asked if they would be willing to check in on Hershel, which they agreed and Henry went to go check on him

It was rocky at first, but Henry reaching out really helped Hershel and the two became friends again, Angela joining them too, though with Monte d'Or they couldn't be there all the time

During Hershel's 'reckless era' Henry would often be the one to come over and make sure he's eating enough and looking after his injuries (both from the government incident and injuries he gets while being reckless)

He has two major injuries around this time, one from before the Government beat down and one that ended his 'reckless era' and made him realise he couldn't keep doing this

The first happened the day Claire died. A young boy ran into the burning building next door to the lab to look for his parents and Hershel ran after him, burning his hands in the process of saving the kid

The second was when he was in a particularly bad place mentally, when he decided to look into the case of Claire's death a second time. He got further with his investigation, but then he was jumped and beat up worse than the first time, severely damaging one of his legs in the process and needing it to be amputated from the knee down (When it heals enough he gets a prosthetic, but he also carries a foldable cane and crutches in case he needs them)

On a brighter note, his reckless era did bring about one good change and that was running into his old 'friend' Paul who had also gotten involved in some shady dealings. After escaping the people Hershel was investigating/Paul was getting even with, they ended up reconnecting (things were a bit more complicated than that but this post is already too long-)

This Au's Hershel is a lot tidier than his canon counterpart, he also tends to collect odd souvenirs from his travels (traits he's picked up from Clark and Brenda, *gestures to 'guy who's nothing but the people he's lost' post*)

He's also a bit quicker to go against law enforcement when they're interfering with his investigations (nothing extreme of course, but he's definitely hidden evidence he hasn't had a chance to observe properly before an inspector could take it away)

And that's all I'll share for now. I have a lot planned for this Au and eventually I want to write a few fics for it too (a multichapter fic for each 'game' and a few oneshots too, though it is a very ambitious project) so we'll see what happens.

[thesbarchives]

thought it would be good to introduce the series into two parts and by that, i'll first start of w/ the basis of the series + classic!

what it is:

superbook is a christian animated show about two kids and a robot travelling back in time to learn about the bible. the protagonists, chris and joy (who are both neighbours and best friends), learn how to deal with moral dilemmas by experiencing them through time travel and demonstrating what they've seen on their journey in the real world

there are three shows in the franchise: superbook classic, superbook reimagined and gizmogo

as a collective, the franchise was and still is a well loved piece of animated christian media along with veggietales, the story keepers, friends and heroes and the greatest adventure

an introduction to classic:

• also known as animated parent and child theatre (s1) and personal computer travel detectives (s2)

• first started in 1981, ended in 1983-84

• the show is set during the 20th century

• classic was used as a project to introduce christianity to japan

• it was the first christian anime and one of the very first to start the isekai genre. (allegedly) its american debut was the first time in forever that a christian animated show went into syndication after davey and goliath in the states and one of the very first pieces of media to introduce anime to americans (and christians)

• originally, classic wasn't supposed to have the name "animated parent and child theatre". instead, the original name was supposed to be "the family adventure: based on old testament bible stories". this, of course, was changed to the current japanese title and in overseas countries, the show was either named "superbook" or "wonder book". sb's name was solely for the fact that it's a reference to the bible

• in 1979, cbn worked with two psychologists, young and rubicon, to determine what would work for spreading the gospel to japan. it turned out that animation/books were the best option and kids were one of the main sources of marketing because they would be open to the bible

• while it was airing in the us, most christian conservatives hated the show bc of its concept of two kids and a robot travelling back in time

• originally, it was supposed to be a japan-exclusive series. the reason? pat robertson (the creator) thought classic wouldn't be marketable outside japan because the show's originally japanese. it took cbn's marketing director, david clark, to convince robertson to have classic translated into english. while cbn was showing it to an expo in france, it was well received and cbn decided to do the english dub shortly after. the us debut was aired and watched in 10 million households

• the concept of children visiting places in the bible was unheard of during that time of (western) christian animation. it was mostly childlike characters and mascots that was telling children what to do, but not why they should do it (this was before sb showed up).

• (cont.) after sb's success, its sister show the flying house aired a year later, the vatican commissioned osamu tezuka to create the fourth anime about the bible and hanna barbera jumped on the bandwagon 4 years later by creating the greatest adventure which was the first christian western animated show that did the same thing sb did

• in japan, both animated parent and child theatre, personal computer travel detectives and the flying house are all part of what is nicknamed "the tatsunoko bible trilogy"

• the main characters' names were different depending on which geographical dub you were watching. for example, they were sho and azusa (jp), chris and aline (fr), luis and anita (es), chris and joy (en), chris and maria/ri (de) and chris* and susie (it) (*apparently his name was also ricky (?) in the italian dub)

• while she has a surname in the original japanese version, joy, in every single dub, doesn't have a specific surname like chris. her surname in the jp ver is yamato

• when it first aired in japan, cbn didn't realise the show was going to be a success at first. due to the airing, it had a plethora of 4-8 million viewers and the bible became one of the best selling books in japan at the time

• in international dubs, uri is written as chris' cousin. but in the original version, he's written as his brother

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

so that's pretty much all you need to know about classic! i got some of the information on the official fanpage for sb (no i'm not joking, cbn created a fanpage for the show while reimagined was still in development) so pretty much some of this is factual information

[thedawningofthehour]

Ok so Wizard of Oz

I assume it‘s about a Wizard but most characters seem to be female? There‘s an upright walking lion and a robot man though I think, because there was an old movie in black and white I think, but I never saw that

I‘m assuming they are summoned by the wizard to save the fantasy world

Something about a hurricane taking a house with it. And there is a scene where a girl goes „I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore“ and there’s a witch (I’m assuming the wizard transitioned good for her)

What I know:

- main characters get summoned by wizard via world’s worst fast travel

- furry and robot man yaoi can happen in theory

- the witch has magic shoes at some point and there’s conflict abut it

SOUP I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

This feels so weird, it feels like I'm mansplaining this movie to you because before this year I have literally never met anyone who didn't watch this movie growing up. But I mean, it was literally written to be an 'American fairy tale' and international movie releases weren't really a thing in 1939, so it makes sense that it wasn't big over in Europe. (my sister's boyfriend also hadn't seen it until she made him watch it the night before we saw Wicked, but he's French and lived in SE Asia as a child-which we routinely forget because he has no accent whatsoever)

Pretty much the entire reason The Wizard of Oz is a big deal is the Technicolor process they used. It was not the first color film made-far from that, the first official color film was made in 1903, which is insane to me. These films were usually hand-colored or used color filters to capture natural color. Which was incredible from a technological standpoint, but these early films were still generally black-and-white films with some added tinting.

Add to that, a lot of these early color films have been lost or only exist in black-and-white format.

Technicolor was invented in 1916, first using a two-strip red/green coloring process to great success.

The colors are generally quite muted, but look how vibrant that red is! The richness of the native woman's green dress and the brown on her collar, in contrast to the white woman's grayish dress. These are both from the early 20s.

Still, color film didn't really take off, because 1) it was more expensive to produce, 2) color television didn't exist, most American households didn't have a television at all, and 3) the time period. The first TVs hit the market in 1928. 1929 marked the start of the Great Depression, so people weren't buying the latest technologies. And then by the time that was wrapping up WWII happened so research and production of luxury items were suspended for the war effort, but The Wizard of Oz was produced in that sweet spot when the economy was recovering but the US hadn't entered WWII yet.

Anyway. Three-strip technicolor was invented, corresponding to the three cones in our eyes that make up our entire color spectrum. With this, they could render pretty much any color humans are capable of seeing. But it required a lot of light for the colors to show up, and didn't produce good results outdoors.

1930 and 1935 respectively.

So while you can see that they're in full color, and the colors are pretty faithful to what they look like in real life, it's still fairly muted.

So I can absolutely see why people lost their shit when they sat in the movie theater and saw this:

Fun fact: the level of lighting required to get these vibrant colors on screen were so hot and intense that it heated the set to over a hundred degrees Fahrenheit, (38C for you soup) and cost the modern equivalent of five million dollars just to power.

The entire movie was basically them showing off their awesome colors. I'm honestly convinced that's why they decided to adapt The Wizard of Oz in the first place-other film adaptions of it did pretty poorly. But with the color symbolism in the story and the fantasy setting giving them cover to go absolutely bananas with the color-yeah, this entire movie was a giant flex.

The colors of Munchkinland.

The contrast of pink poppies, the Emerald City, and the Yellow Brick Road.

The green skin on the Wicked Witch of the West was invented for the movie, which forms the initial conflict of the Wicked novels and play.

Dorothy's dress went through a bazillion renditions before they eventually settled on the simple blue gingham described in the novel, made of cheap fabric and hand-sewn to look authentically homemade, as a girl living on a Kansas farm would have worn in the 30s. The dress was actually blue and light pink, to give the film the desired shade and contrast.

In the original Wizard of Oz, the magical shoes Dorothy wears are silver, which was potentially commentary on the demonetization of silver in the 1890s. The Yellow Brick Road representing the gold standard, with Dorothy using the road on her way to the Emerald City, which represented green paper money. The reveal of the titular Wizard being a charlatan and completely powerless in his Emerald City palace was Baum insulting the concept of fiat money.

The shoes were changed to the ruby slippers we see here to show off the rich colors made possible with the Technicolor process, and to provide contrast with the Yellow Brick Road and Dorothy's blue dress. In Wicked, the shoes start off as silver slippers given to Nessarose by her father and later enchanted by Elphaba to allow her to walk-the power of the enchantment causing the shoes to turn ruby-red with heat. Which I thought was a cool nod to how the shoe color was changed.

I'm not sure why Dorothy's pictured with them still silver though. They're supposed to be red by the time she puts them on.

You were talking about plot stuff and I just basically screamed a summary of the history of color television at you loooool

The point is, The Wizard of Oz is a national classic mostly because of its revolutionary use of color, and also I think people were watching it over and over during WWII because new movies weren't being produced and it provided escapism. The music is still catchy and it still looks very pretty-but it's not a particularly deep story. Also the horrific conditions the actors and crew were subject to. I think it would be kind of underwhelming to watch for the first time as an adult. The main draw for us is nostalgia.

But I don't think you necessarily have to see the 1939 movie to enjoy Wicked. There's a lot of references and jokes to stuff that happens in it, (the heel of Nessa's shoes referencing the tornado that eventually kills her and brings Dorothy to Oz, Elphaba's "so happy I could melt" line when the audience knows that's how she dies) but in general all you need to know is that Dorothy kills the Wicked Witch of the West and then both she and the Wizard go back to America. I think everything else is pretty well contained in the Wicked storyline.

But it is incredible to see the progression.

[cadet-aviator]

Quality time

And we went, I think it was the same weekend or the weekend after, but pretty soon. Dad must have made some quick changes in his schedule, to free himself up. 

We had compromised: no cadet uniform, but ‘just’ my school uniform, shirt and tie, grey pants, normal shoes. It was quite relaxed, actually.

There are some photographs where clearly I have unbuttoned my top button and loosened my tie – very uncharacteristic of me. 

I think now that I did that to please my Dad, mostly, to show that I was not a robot, but perhaps I did unwind a bit.

It was fun. Lovely food, some culture, just me and Dad on a market, in a restaurant, chatting. I had missed the Christmas holidays, remember, when I was at Camp, and I had been working away ever since.

But when we talked some more, later at night, in our nice hotel room, I still felt lost.

It felt wrong to escape the Saturday morning school cadet drill, and it felt wrong to not fulfil my punishment duties at the barracks, in the afternoon. I felt like a deserter. 

I couldn’t tell my Dad that I really wanted to talk to the Admiral some more and ask him why he felt I was ‘officer material’, or why he thought I would be best placed as a household aide, and what that would mean. I certainly couldn’t tell my Dad how I felt about kneeling for the Admiral and putting my head on the floor in front of him, and how good it felt when he kept me waiting like that for a few minutes, before telling me to get up.

I remember that on the third or fourth day I ran out of clean white shirts. My Dad told me ‘to just let the hotel staff take care of that’. Which made sense, but when the lady came to pick up the laundry I made sure to tell her exactly how I wanted them washed and ironed. I even went down to the laundry room with her. I didn’t tell my Dad that, neither.

On the last night we went to a more expensive restaurant, overlooking the beach, and my Dad (bless him) put on a shirt and tie for me – ‘just proper dress code for that place, son, nothing disciplinary, I’m not joining your bloody cadets’ – and I really appreciated it. It made talking easier. 

I told him I was not a nerd or autistic or something, I just felt so safe and at home when things were organised like that, ‘you know, with rules’ and he said he understood.

I told him that I had sometimes hoped that he would wear formal clothes at home all the time, ‘so we’d have a really formal home, with structure but just normal, happy, clean…’ He smiled at that, and I guess he understood that too – over all these conversations in Thailand hung the shadow of my mother, who was away in Europe, battling her demons. 

He said: ‘It’s fine, son, you can wear what you want and do what you want.’

And I said: ‘I have to do the camp, Dad. I know it was hard last time but I want to go again. Please let me do the camp.’

‘Very well, son.’

‘Thanks Dad’.

‘There’s a chance I will have to spend a month or so on the coast, and another few weeks back home in Europe, for this deal. Would you like me to talk to the Admiral’s office about a place for you there?’

‘Yes. Yes Dad. I’m sorry Dad, but yes.’

And I cried a bit, again. Dad hugged me. It was all fine. 

It was also a goodbye.

We had to wait a while, at the airport. Dad got out his phone and did some work.

I went to have a haircut. Not just any haircut. A proper haircut, a cadet haircut.

I loved my Dad and I was grateful for the trip, but I was going to be a better boy. I was going to wear uniform forever, I was going to stay pure, I was going to obey, obey, obey, and I was going to serve.

(All images are AI-generated)

[businessmarketreports]

An Overview of UK Home Small Domestic Appliances Market: Trends and Insights

The UK home small domestic appliances (SDA) market has seen significant growth driven by evolving consumer lifestyles, technological innovations, and a growing focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. From kettles and toasters to handheld vacuums and smart kitchen gadgets, SDAs are becoming indispensable in UK households.

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Here’s an analysis of the key trends and insights shaping the market in 2024.

1. Market Size and Growth

The SDA market in the UK is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4-6% from 2023 to 2028, driven by post-pandemic shifts in home-based lifestyles.

Rising disposable income and increasing interest in premium and smart appliances are fueling demand.

2. Key Consumer Trends

a. Smart and Connected Appliances

Voice control integration (via Alexa, Google Assistant) and IoT-enabled SDAs are gaining traction.

Popular products: Smart kettles, Wi-Fi-enabled coffee makers, and robotic vacuum cleaners.

b. Health and Wellness Focus

Growing interest in air fryers, blenders, and juicers as consumers focus on healthier lifestyles.

Increased demand for air purifiers and humidifiers due to rising concerns over indoor air quality.

c. Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

UK consumers are prioritizing eco-friendly appliances with lower energy consumption, such as energy-efficient kettles and low-wattage irons.

Brands offering repairable and recyclable products are seeing stronger loyalty.

d. Compact and Space-Saving Designs

Urban living and smaller households drive demand for multi-functional and compact SDAs, such as 2-in-1 steamers or combination microwaves.

3. Product-Specific Insights

Kitchen Appliances

Coffee Machines:

Premium brands like Nespresso and De’Longhi dominate, with demand for bean-to-cup and pod-based machines increasing.

Air Fryers:

Brands like Tefal and Ninja lead as air fryers become a household staple.

Consumers prioritize larger capacities and multi-functionality.

Cleaning Appliances

Robotic Vacuum Cleaners:

Growing adoption of smart robotic vacuums from brands like iRobot and Eufy.

Consumers value mapping technologies and self-emptying features.

Handheld Vacuums:

Brands like Dyson continue to dominate the cordless vacuum segment, driven by innovations in battery life and suction power.

Personal Care Appliances

Growth in electric toothbrushes, hair dryers, and grooming kits, driven by brand diversification and targeted marketing.

4. Retail and Distribution Trends

E-commerce Boom:

Online channels like Amazon, Argos, and Currys are witnessing robust growth, fueled by convenience and competitive pricing.

Omni-Channel Experiences:

Retailers are integrating digital and in-store experiences, such as AR demos for products.

Subscription Models:

Brands offering subscription plans for products like coffee machines and vacuum filters are seeing higher customer retention.

5. Competitive Landscape

Key Players

Dyson:

Leader in cordless vacuum and air purifier segments, with a focus on cutting-edge design and functionality.

Ninja:

Dominates the air fryer market and continues to expand into other SDAs like blenders and multi-cookers.

Philips:

Strong presence in personal care and kitchen appliances, with a growing focus on energy efficiency.

Breville:

Known for kettles, toasters, and sandwich makers, with a strong mid-market appeal.

Market Share Dynamics

Premium brands like Dyson and Nespresso dominate the high-end segment.

Mid-range brands (e.g., Tefal, Morphy Richards) maintain steady growth by balancing affordability and quality.

New entrants offering smart or niche eco-friendly solutions are gradually gaining market share.

6. Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges

Economic Pressures:

Inflation and rising energy costs may deter discretionary spending on premium SDAs.

Supply Chain Disruptions:

Component shortages and logistical issues continue to affect manufacturing and delivery timelines.

Opportunities

Sustainability:

Brands investing in energy-efficient and recyclable products are likely to capture eco-conscious consumers.

Customization:

Offering customizable products (e.g., personalized coffee settings or modular vacuum components) can differentiate brands.

7. Future Outlook

Smart Home Integration:

Growth in smart home adoption will drive demand for IoT-enabled SDAs.

Health and Wellness Products:

Continued interest in products supporting healthy lifestyles, such as air purifiers and low-fat cooking appliances.

Sustainability Leadership:

Companies embracing circular economy principles will gain a competitive edge.

The UK small domestic appliances market is poised for steady growth, underpinned by consumer preferences for convenience, sustainability, and technology-driven innovation. Players who align their strategies with these evolving trends will be best positioned to thrive.

[alltimefail-sims]

"📩 Simblr question of the day: according to you, what are the most underutilized gameplay features in the sims games you played, dlc included?"

Sharing the SQOTD from @simblr-question-of-the-day. I really liked this question because I'm excited to get more gameplay ideas.

Also, you talked about being busy recently so good luck with everything you are working on!

Yes I have been bit busier lately than I've been in a tick, but that's because I'm trying to be better about working on the book I'm writing!! But please continue to send asks and such, I'm still here and active just posting my own content a bit slower - but I'm still active and lurking about!

As for underutilized gameplay features...

I think the Club feature from Get Together is a really underutilized feature in the Sims. @sojutrait actually has a great guide up on their page that explains how clubs can be used for a more custom, immersive, hands-on gameplay experience.

I also think people don't realize how much fun the sales tables can be: I love doing "yard sales" to get rid of stuff in my sims home (for realistic gameplay), I love creating community lots filled with those sales tables to create a farmer's market/small community festival feel, and I love using them for my free-spirited, rancher, farmer, and homesteader sims specifically so they can sell their goods and rely on that income solely! Also you can create better custom food booths now with Home Chef Hustle and you can build a "food truck" OR like a pop-up ice cream stand at the park, for example. Idk it's just a fun feature to me, and exciting for those who don't think any of the rabbit-hole jobs suit their sim (or for those who want more flexibility in their sims' income without having to buy a whole ass additional community lot business).

The handiness skill as a whole is a gamechanger because of the "upgrade object" feature. The upgrades are actually super helpful and many of them will improve the functionality of the given object, will give custom moodlets, and will even help avoid disaster (fireproofing your dryer in the sims is a must... that shit catches fire if you look at it the wrong way lmaoooo).

The robotics skill is really cool and I love making the servos!! Cute little robot friend/family member and they can help around the house (crucial when you have big families, fun if you're going for a futuristic vibe or eccentric household).

Occults, in my opinion, are an underrated feature of the Sims. I think everyone should add some kind of weird, campy, supernatural shenanigans to their gameplay. Have your sim fall in love with a ghost; have your sim accidentally get bitten by a werewolf or vampire; befriend a mermaid; build a rocket in your backyard and go to space; get abducted and raise an alien; the possibilities are endless! Occults can shake shit up, especially if you're tired of vanilla, realistic gameplay.

FAMILY VACATIONS!!! HONEYMOONS!! FRIEND TRIPS!!! I love taking my sims on vacation and taking photos, making memories, etc. This feature is great too because you can get extended family members to go on vacation with your household and then it'll be a little family reunion (and you'll get moodlets for this as well that are like "The whole family is together" or something like that, it's really cute!). I think because you can literally travel to anywhere at any time without using the vacation feature this becomes really under-utilized, but it's a fun little thing to do!

Custom summer vacation holiday with seasons: depending on your lifespan/how you have your calendar days set up you can make it lasts a few days, a whole week, or even two weeks (so the kids can be off school during that time - I do one week in my saves). I just make the "mandatory events" swimming, grilling, spending time with family, stuff like that! Some days I literally have no mandatory events lol, just a day off school!

Honestly that's all I've got off the top of my head: I use a lot of mods and always have, so it can be hard for me to isolate what is a modded feature and what is just a part of the game itself! I hope one or more of these can help you spice your gameplay up a bit! Thank you for this question as always!!! <3

[semiconductorsandelectronics]

The global household robots market size is valued at USD 10.3 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to USD 24.5 billion by 2028; growing at a CAGR of 18.8% during the forecast period.

[chandupalle]

https://www.whatech.com/og/markets-research/consumer/766323-household-robots-market-worth-24-5-billion-by-2028-at-a-cagr-of-18-8

[211 Pages Report] Household robots market size is valued at USD 10.3 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to USD 24.5 billion by 2028; growing at a CAGR of 18.8% from 2023 to 2028

[priyanshisingh]

Household Appliances Market Overview: Growth Factors and Future Trends (2023-2032)

The global demand for Household Appliances was valued at USD 602514.2 million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 1035351.78 million in 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.20% between 2024 and 2032.

The household appliances market encompasses a wide range of devices and equipment used for everyday domestic tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and food preservation. This market includes major appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, and air conditioners, as well as small appliances such as microwaves, vacuum cleaners, coffee makers, and blenders. The growth of this market is driven by factors such as increasing urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and technological advancements that enhance convenience and efficiency.

Consumers are increasingly seeking smart appliances with features like energy efficiency, connectivity, and automation, which allow for better control and monitoring of household tasks. Additionally, the trend towards sustainable living is leading to a higher demand for eco-friendly and energy-efficient appliances. Key players in the market, such as Whirlpool, Samsung, LG, and Electrolux, continually innovate to meet evolving consumer preferences and regulatory standards. The household appliances market is highly competitive and global, with significant growth potential in emerging economies where rising living standards and expanding middle classes are driving demand for modern home conveniences.

Major Household Appliances-

Refrigerators: Used for preserving food by keeping it cold.

Washing Machines: Used for cleaning clothes automatically.

Dishwashers: Used for cleaning dishes and utensils.

Ovens: Used for baking, roasting, and cooking food.

Air Conditioners: Used for cooling and sometimes heating indoor air.

Microwaves: Used for quick cooking, heating, and defrosting food.

Dryers: Used for drying clothes after washing.

Small Appliances-

Vacuum Cleaners: Used for cleaning floors, carpets, and upholstery.

Coffee Makers: Used for brewing coffee.

Blenders: Used for blending, mixing, and pureeing food and drinks.

Toasters and Toaster Ovens: Used for toasting bread and baking small items.

Electric Kettles: Used for boiling water quickly.

Irons: Used for removing wrinkles from clothes.

Food Processors: Used for chopping, slicing, and dicing food.

Kitchen Appliances-

Stoves and Cooktops: Used for cooking food using gas or electricity.

Slow Cookers: Used for cooking food at low temperatures over a long period.

Pressure Cookers: Used for cooking food quickly under high pressure.

Rice Cookers: Used for cooking rice perfectly and sometimes other grains.

Juicers: Used for extracting juice from fruits and vegetables.

Cleaning Appliances-

Steam Mops: Used for deep cleaning floors with steam.

Robotic Vacuum Cleaners: Automated devices used for cleaning floors without manual intervention.

Carpet Cleaners: Used for deep cleaning carpets.

Personal Care Appliances-

Hair Dryers: Used for drying hair quickly.

Electric Shavers: Used for shaving facial or body hair.

Hair Straighteners: Used for straightening hair.

Home Comfort Appliances-

Humidifiers: Used for adding moisture to the air.

Dehumidifiers: Used for removing moisture from the air.

Heaters: Used for providing warmth during cold weather.

Fans: Used for circulating air and providing cooling.

Health and Wellness Appliances-

Air Purifiers: Used for cleaning the air of pollutants and allergens.

Water Purifiers: Used for making drinking water safe and clean.

Electric Massagers: Used for relieving muscle tension and pain.

Household Appliances Market Challenges:

Intense Competition-

Market Saturation: The household appliances market is highly competitive, with numerous established brands and new entrants constantly vying for market share.

Price Wars: Intense competition often leads to price wars, which can erode profit margins for manufacturers and retailers.

Technological Advancements-

Rapid Innovation: The fast pace of technological advancements requires companies to continually invest in research and development to stay relevant and competitive.

Obsolescence: Products can quickly become outdated, forcing companies to regularly update their offerings, which can be costly.

Supply Chain Disruptions-

Global Dependencies: The global nature of the supply chain makes it vulnerable to disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, and pandemics.

Logistics Issues: Shipping delays and increased transportation costs can impact the timely delivery of products and overall profitability.

Regulatory Compliance-

Environmental Regulations: Increasingly stringent environmental regulations require manufacturers to produce energy-efficient and eco-friendly products, which can increase production costs.

Safety Standards: Adhering to various safety standards across different regions can be complex and expensive.

Sustainability Concerns-

Eco-Friendly Materials: The demand for sustainable and recyclable materials poses a challenge, as they can be more expensive and harder to source.

Waste Management: Managing electronic waste and ensuring proper disposal or recycling of old appliances is a growing concern.

Consumer Expectations-

Quality and Reliability: Consumers expect high-quality, reliable products, and any failure can lead to loss of brand reputation and customer loyalty.

Smart Features: Increasing demand for smart and connected appliances requires significant investment in technology and infrastructure.

Economic Fluctuations-

Recession Impact: Economic downturns can lead to reduced consumer spending on non-essential items, including household appliances.

Currency Fluctuations: Exchange rate volatility can affect the cost of imported components and overall pricing strategies.

Key Players:

Dick GmbH & Co (Germany)

GLOBAL APPLIANCES USA (U.S.)

KAI USA LTD (U.S.)

Kiya corp. (Japan)

A.C. Knife (U.S.)

Messermeister (Germany)

Victorinox AG (Switzerland)

Anker Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. (China)

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd (South Korea)

Shenzhen Proscenic Technology Co. Ltd. (China)

Neato Robotics, Inc. (U.S.)

Cecotec Innovaciones S.L. (Spain)

G. Electronics Inc (South Korea)

Dyson Limited (U.K.)

Panasonic Corporation (Japan)

Sharp Corporation (U.S.)

More About Report- https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/household-appliances-market

The household appliances market is influenced by a variety of dynamic factors that shape its growth, trends, and competitive landscape. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for market players to navigate the industry effectively. Here are the key dynamics:

Consumer Preferences and Behavior:

Smart and Connected Appliances: There is a growing preference for smart appliances that offer remote control, automation, and connectivity with other smart home devices.

Energy Efficiency: Consumers are increasingly seeking energy-efficient appliances to reduce electricity bills and minimize environmental impact.

Aesthetic and Design: Stylish and aesthetically pleasing designs are becoming important as consumers look for appliances that complement their home decor.

Convenience and Ease of Use: Features that enhance convenience and ease of use, such as touch controls, voice commands, and self-cleaning functions, are highly valued.

Technological Trends:

Internet of Things (IoT): Integration of IoT technology in appliances allows for smart functionality, remote monitoring, and control, leading to improved user experience.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI-driven appliances offer advanced features like predictive maintenance, personalized settings, and enhanced performance.

Sustainability Innovations: Development of eco-friendly appliances using sustainable materials and technologies to reduce energy and water consumption.

Competitive Landscape:

Major Players: Dominated by global giants such as Whirlpool, Samsung, LG, Electrolux, and Bosch, which continuously innovate and expand their product portfolios.

Local Brands: In emerging markets, local brands compete effectively by offering cost-effective solutions tailored to regional preferences.

Mergers and Acquisitions: Companies engage in mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships to expand their market presence and technological capabilities.

Regulatory and Environmental Factors:

Energy Regulations: Governments worldwide are implementing stringent energy efficiency standards, compelling manufacturers to produce compliant appliances.

Environmental Policies: Policies promoting the reduction of carbon footprints and the use of eco-friendly materials influence product development and manufacturing processes.

Safety Standards: Compliance with safety regulations is crucial to ensure consumer safety and avoid legal repercussions.

Economic Influences:

Economic Stability: Economic conditions significantly impact consumer spending on household appliances. Economic downturns can lead to reduced demand, while periods of growth boost sales.

Currency Fluctuations: Exchange rate volatility affects the cost of imported components and final product pricing, influencing profitability.

Supply Chain Dynamics:

Global Supply Chain: The globalized supply chain for components and raw materials can be vulnerable to disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, and pandemics.

Logistics and Distribution: Efficient logistics and distribution networks are essential to ensure timely delivery and availability of products in various markets.

Marketing and Branding:

Brand Loyalty: Strong brand recognition and loyalty play a crucial role in consumer purchasing decisions. Established brands invest heavily in marketing to maintain their market position.

Digital Marketing: The rise of digital marketing, social media, and influencer collaborations enhances brand visibility and consumer engagement.

E-commerce and Retail Trends:

Online Sales Growth: The shift towards online shopping, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to increased sales through e-commerce platforms.

Omni-channel Strategies: Companies are adopting omni-channel retail strategies, integrating online and offline sales channels to provide a seamless shopping experience.

Segmentation:

By Major Appliance Segmentation:

Refrigerators and Freezers

Cooking Ranges and Ovens

Dishwashers

Range Hoods and Ventilation Systems

Food Processors and Blenders

Laundry Appliances:

Washing Machines

Clothes Dryers

Washer-Dryer Combos

Ironing Systems

Water Heaters and Boilers

Air Conditioners and Heaters

Browse the full report –  https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/household-appliances-market

Browse Our Blog: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/household-appliances-market-analysis-global-industry-qqiif

Contact Us:

Phone: +91 6232 49 3207

Email: sales@credenceresearch.com

Website: https://www.credenceresearch.com

[stevebattle]

D'Entrecasteaux (1991) by Branch & Associates (Australia) for Moulinex, France. D'Entrecasteaux is designed to be a low-cost household robot vacuum cleaner, projected to cost around a hundred dollars in production, despite its advanced features and artificial intelligence. The top picture shows an early proof of concept developed for Moulinex, conceived and prototyped in just 30 days, while the lower photo shows a later prototype cleaning under a chair without touching it, yet retaining positional information. “D’Entrecasteaux was the prototype of a low cost autonomous appliance that the user would simply put down anywhere in a room and from where it would proceed to clean the whole floor without any human involvement. It even headed off to a home bay to recharge its batteries when they got low and returned to where it had stopped so that it could continue finishing the job. Once finished, it would park itself in the same home bay and empty its dust bag into an attractive bulk collector. D'Entrecasteaux was nothing like the simplistic robotic vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers that had started to appear on the market and which did their cleaning by random roaming or other inefficient and limited methods. We were very proud of it. Our robot had scanning sensors that built an internal map of the room, including the layout of the furniture, where people were moving around, and when things inside the room changed. Nothing was added to or altered in the room to cater to any technical limitations. From this map, which was regenerated several times a second, the robot continuously planned what path to take next to systematically and efficiently clean all the floor space just like a human would. … D'Entrecasteaux incidentally was named after a sea channel near my home town of Hobart, Tasmania, originally discovered by a French explorer, and we chose the name in respect for our French client. Unbelievably, like in a movie, the first female European to land in Tasmania was a sailor's girlfriend, onboard D'Entrecasteaux's ship, disguised as a male so she could travel with her lover! Very French.” – Allan Branch, Save the Day: How to Fix Any Failed or Failing Company Without Downsizing.

[khal-ulti]

Life By You hype

Today the new life simulation videogame by Paradox will be shown. I don't know the details on what they're gonna show: is it going to be a trailer, or (I hope) actual gameplay. I'm really eager to see what the Paradox team has worked on, as Rod Humble is part of the development team and he was a part of the TS2 and TS3 teams. I have high expectations for this game, I love The Sims 2 and I've been playing it since I was 7 years old (I'm currently 24), but I would like to experience something fresh that can please my taste. I've continued playing the second installment of the The Sims franchise because The Sims 3 and 4 both have flaws that ruin the experience for me, even though I like aspects of both of them: I hate not being able to create custom worlds in The Sims 4 and I also think it's too easy and family-friendly, it doesn't have interesting stories and drama among households like its predecessors so I have a hard time getting invested in the premades; The Sims 3, on the other hand, is a game that I enjoy and I've played a lot, but ultimately I didn't transition from TS2 to TS3 because I hate when sims stand idling with their eyes looking empty between actions, they seem robotic... somehow TS2 is more immersive to me than TS3 even though the latter was published almost 10 years later.

We are in 2023, TS2 is 19 years old and even though I still love this game so much, its age shows when it comes to technical features that were greatly improved in its successors, for example TS4 easily beats TS2 in the house building aspect (if you want to move a wall in TS2 by one tile, you have to demolish it and rebuild it from the start while in TS4 you can simply drag it and, as a lot builder, this feature saves so much time). I hope Life by You can be a worthy opponent to The Sims franchise... Everything depends on today's reveal.

If the marketing team at Paradox is smart, they should know that they can pull so many players from TS2 and TS3 instead of trying to copy TS4. I hope Life By You is mature, dramatic and introspective, with a focus on character depth. It's a life simulator and life is full of darkness, contradictions, fear and doubt. Let's see what they'll show us! 💖