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Kid Robot
Submitted by dr™ on September 14, 2007 - 12:24am.
Looks like we're one step closer to the world of tomorrow as envisioned by Brian Aldiss in "Supertoys Last All Summer Long" (the basis for Spielberg's A.I.). Developed by Hanson Robotics, it comes in the form of a little boy companion that goes by the name of Zeno who's a walking, talking, intelligent "conversational" robot. I wonder if there are robo-pedophiles just itching for this guy to go on sale. Between Zeno and the planned Jackobot, the future of robot-edutainment could spell trouble ;)
The prototype will officially be unveiled at Wired's NextFest this weekend in Los Angeles where he's sure to get the interactive robo-lovers all sparking with simulated joy. He'll cost somewhere in the $200 - $300 range when he turns up in your local electronic supermarket sometime in the next two or three years. Really, who wouldn't want their own 17-inch tall, lifelike robot friend?