We'll miss you little guy
49 "dog-years" after AIBO invented the robotic companion market, Sony decides to let AIBO join Old Yeller
Reachers at Purdue University and the University of Washington are beginning to show that robotic pets can offer many of the same health advantages as real pets.
For example, after 6 weeks with a Sony AIBO, elderly residents in care
homes reported feeling less depressed and less lonely after interacting
with robotic dogs. One 90 year-old participant initially
began thinking that the robot's needs would just be batteries.
After 3 weeks, she said added that her AIBO needed attention and
physical contact.
Unfortunately, Sony has announced that they will be ending the AIBO project.
Once the current stock is sold, no further robotic dogs will be
manufactured. Although more than 150,000 of the $2,000 AIBO dogs
have been sold since 1999, Sony is terminating the project as they face
new challenges in the consumer electronics and electronics
entertainment market and need to meet shareholder demands for
profitability. The announcement also means that the Sony QRIO concept robot will no longer be developed.
While
Sony turns their attention back to the traditional consumer electronics
market of TVs and PlayStations, their departure from the robotic
companion market opens up new opportunities for the
remaining companies. There's still Honda ASIMO and, according to an article from last month,
at least one company is working on including a blood pressure monitor
in its robot that could also seek medical attention if it owner stopped
interacting with the robot after an extended period of time.
"When an individual makes a copy of a song for himself, I suppose we can say he stole a song." -- Sony BMG attorney Jennifer Pariser
|
Most Popular ArticlesReport: Apple to Debut iPad 3 During First Week of March
February 10, 2012, 9:36 AM
Nikon Announces 36.3MP D800, D800E D-SLRs
February 7, 2012, 10:11 AM
Quick Note: Acura Unveils Production Version of ILX Hybrid Sedan
February 8, 2012, 9:10 AM
Google's Motorola Mobility Purchase Approval Expected Next Week
February 9, 2012, 3:02 PM
AMD Concedes Die-Shrink Race to Intel, Considers ARM Cores
February 6, 2012, 11:45 AM
|
