ifbot

Juniper Foo | Dec 07, 2004

It's hard enough getting our technophobic gramps to figure out the VCR Play button, let alone hug a hunka metallic programming. But that seems to be the name of the game for Nagoya-based Business Design Laboratory Co. Its 45cm-tall "cuddling robot" ifbot's prime directive is to keep the elderly calm and occupied with conversational responses, riddles and quizzes, thanks to tens of thousands of input dialog patterns that it draws on. Being lab-grown in Japan, ifbot is always mindful of being polite and respectful to its seniors. Ojisan (grandpops): "Oh oh! I just won first prize!!" ifbot: "Perhaps you are overtired. Why don't you rest today? " Ojisan: "Argh, my heart, my heart, somebody helppp..." ifbot: "Perhaps you are overtired. Why don't you rest today?"

Price: 604,800 yen (US$5,924)
Availability: Japan
Device: Robot
Basic specs: N.A.

Filed under: Future Tech
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