TECHNOLOGY & AI ENGAGING WITH THE TECH
Heathrow Airport recently asked passengers to name its fleet of cleaning robots in a bid to help them engage more closely with the technology. Stuart Hands from Tork manufacturer Essity, looks at the many ways in which technology is becoming more user-friendly and accessible – and asks whether people’s appreciation of it is growing.
It was a clever marketing move. In December 2025, Heathrow Airport came up with a plan to give its new team of cleaning robots individual names in a bid to give each of them a personality.
instead of deciding on those names themselves, airport executives launched a competition among passengers asking them to take on the task.
Members of the public were invited via Facebook to come up with their own suggestions for the 32 purple- hued cleaning robots that are now being deployed in the transport hub’s terminal buildings. Ideas included the Mopfather, Sweep Caroline and Dustbin Hoffman while other popular suggestions were Dust Vader and Air Floorce One.
The whole exercise highlighted a growing trend to enhance people’s engagement with machines by attempting to humanise them. The Henry Hoover is an early example of this practice.
Launched in 1981, the iconic Numatic vacuum cleaner was given a man’s name and painted-on eyes along with a beaming smile to give it a personality and help connect the machine to its user. The Henry brand has been a huge success and millions of the smiling models have been sold around the world over the past 40-plus years.
In recent times, manufacturers of cleaning robots have taken this a step further by giving their machines human- like features in a bid to enhance user engagement. For example, Lionsbot robots feature expressive eyes that blink and convey emotions such as sadness, pleasure and irritation. Some machines are even programmed to sing songs and crack jokes to entertain onlookers and to improve people’s perceptions of the technology.
Then last autumn it was announced that Norwegian-based robotics firm iX Technologies had launched a robotic assistant with a soft-bodied human form.
The size and shape of an average adult, the Neo robot is said to be capable of folding laundry, washing dishes and cleaning rooms. It can also converse with its owner and learn tasks by watching people execute them. Having an intelligent automaton in the home could seem somewhat alarming and disconcerting for the owner, but its human- like form is designed to make the Neo robot appear less threatening.
Finding ways of helping customers, end-users and observers to engage with technology is important for the companies that manufacture and supply it. Many
people are naturally suspicious of new, smarter systems – particularly if these are purpose-designed to carry out tasks that have been traditionally executed by humans.
For example, when Essity’s own Tork Vision Cleaning was first introduced on to the market it was treated with caution by some operatives who were unable to immediately understand its value. But they soon began to realise that the technology could save them valuable time, cut down on repetitive checks and allow them to stay ahead of the game.
Tork Vision Cleaning uses sensors to monitor washroom footfall and keep a check on refill levels of soap and paper dispensers. This allows cleaning teams in large facilities to ensure that essential supplies are never allowed to run out. And in high-traffic environments cleaners can keep a constant check on stock levels and ensure that the right amount of reserve stock is available in those cabinets closest to the busiest washrooms.
The tool also allows staff to keep on top of cleaning tasks by providing a checklist that can be ticked off as each job is completed. All tasks are clearly depicted using pictograms to make the software easy for everyone to use.
According to data collected from Tork customers, switching to Tork Vision Cleaning has helped customers ensure that their dispensers are stocked 99% of the time. It has also reduced dispenser checks by 91%, freeing up staff members from other jobs and avoiding them having to trek to and from each washroom to make physical checks on refill levels.
And Studies have shown that the support provided by this real-time data allows operatives to act with more confidence and precision. This means their role is taken more seriously and their job satisfaction is improved.
Another way in which Essity uses technology to improve engagement is through its online training schemes.
Tork Interactive Clean Hospital Training takes FMs and staff through various real world cleaning scenarios in an engaging way.
The training takes place in a virtual hospital and incorporates a module on daily cleaning in an occupied patient room, and another on discharge cleaning protocols. The module focuses on learning by doing and takes the cleaner through the process in a logical fashion. The cleaner is first reminded to wash their hands and don PPE before entering the room to be cleaned. Each step of the process is then addressed from picking up debris,
36 | TOMORROW’S FM
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