Japanese robot to chat lonely elderly out of senility

[underpants]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/afplifestyle_japan

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's growing elderly population from will be able to buy companionship in the form of a 45-centimeter (18-inch) robot, programmed to provide just enough small talk to keep them from going senile.

Snuggling Ifbot, who is dressed in an astronaut suit with a glowing face, has the conversation ability of a five-year-old, the language level needed to stimulate the brains of senior citizens, its software designer said.



"In the future, we want to add other functions to the robot, such as emergency signals that elderly owners can use to contact local medical personnel," Ohsuga said.

The Japanese are famous for their longevity, with more than 23,000 people aged 100 or over, in part due to a traditionally healthy diet and active lifestyle.

[northzax]

1. this is sad

that a country is aging so quickly that the young are outnumbered by the old, and therefore cannot maintain ties between generations. technology cannot substitute for humans contact, I fear.

[ooglymoogly]

2. this is a good idea

i hope it works

[sniffa]

3. you're Link don't work

it brings you to a different japanese story.

[underpants]

5. Link

http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/12/02/0037206

[sniffa]

6. thanks

[Bruce McAuley]

4. Hey! If you would be senile WITHOUT the stimulation...

I think it's not only a good idea, it will be REQUIRED and WANTED in the future to keep people connected to a minimum of "reality". What KIND of reality can be debated.

Bruce

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. Earlier prototype:

[democracy eh]

8. snort, spew, chuckle

thank you

you gotta love those Japanese
they can find a robot solution to ANYTHING

[underpants]

9. robot solution

That's funny. It would make a great band name

[democracy eh]

10. now I have Kraftwerk's 'We ar the Robots'

running through my head