Robots: The New Pets
Gone are the days when your kids beg you to let them keep dogs and cats and you always don’t allow them to because you’re worried about the money for food and that you’d have to regularly clean them and yes, clean the droppings. As always, the Japanese seem to have the solution for all our pet problems. Sega Toys Japan has come up with two robots which might just replace real cats and dogs in the homes of the not-so-animal-fond people.
Let’s take a look, first, at the Dream DX. Unlike the defunct Aibo, Dream DX is very much like its real-life counterpart, except its innards are made of metal. The life-like Dream DX can even move its mouth, close its eyes, walk to and fro, and wag its robotic tail. It can also react to the words “good boy” and wag its tail like dogs are supposed to. The Dream DX was unveiled to the public during the Tokyo Toy Forum. This little bugger would be available in Japan soon for JPY29,600 or US$270. It’s so cute and cuddly and best of all, it doesn’t need a bone. If they can make it fetch, I’d get one for myself.
If there’s a dog, of course, there’ll be a cat. The Dream Cat, also created by Sega Toys Japan, is a feline robotic pet. Unlike the Dream DX, however, the Dream Cat can talk! It has 333 Japanese words pre-installed. It utters those words depending on where you touch it — it has sensors all over its body. Unlike all felines, however, the Dream Cat is quite a snob like felines are supposed to be. Play with it too long and it gets annoyed.
Sure, robotic pets might be a poor alternative to real animals. But for people who can’t get pets for various reasons, they might be the solution to your longing.
Source: New Launches
