Both robots understand voice commands as well as recognise faces and gestures. They can select music or movies on an LCD screen, make appointments or read the weather to you. Ok, that's more than a remote can do.
Despite all the hoopla, Philips is still fine-tuning the technology, which at this moment fails to invoke an emotional bond with the user and exhibit a "personality". During demonstrations, iCat didn't always listen, or began to repeat itself, all things remotes won't luckily do. For the time being, Philips only sells these platforms to universities and research labs.
