Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Globe and Mail: Breaking Business News :: Sony’s breeders rear Aibo 2

By JACK KAPICA

Globe and Mail Update

The new version, which Sony unveiled Tuesday in Toronto, is also lighter than its predecessor, has more sophisticated software to demonstrate a wider range of emotions, more motors (13 of them running 20 joints) for more tricks and it can now understand spoken commands instead of musical ones. Its brushed-titanium coat also comes in three colours — blue, champagne and black.[…] And it talks. Endlessly.

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NATIONAL POST ONLINE | Columnists | Columnist Story :: Robot dog requires nurturing. Too bad

$2,300 virtual pet simulates the real thing’s neediness

Rebecca Eckler

National Post

TORONTO – I haven’t seen the movie A.I., so I had no idea what to expect yesterday when I headed out to pick up “AIBO,” my very own robotic companion, and bring him home with me for the afternoon.

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I decided to try to make AIBO mad, just for fun. So I said, “Bad AIBO!” with a sharp tap to his head. And he started flashing red.

And then I felt bad. I started petting him on the head, and said, “Good boy!” AIBO started flashing green and making happy, beeping noises. And I felt better about myself.

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Like a Child, `Smart’ Robot Learns Gradually

August 17, 2001 07:40 CDT

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According to Knight Ridder Newspaper, that’s the way John Weng, a robotics expert at Michigan State University, is teaching a robot to learn like a child, to obey spoken commands, trundle down a hall, find and pick up toys with its mechanical hand.

Weng is breeding a new kind of “intelligent” robot that learns in a novel way: by experience, the way animals and people do.

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Aibo to protect Smithsonian – Tech News – CNET.com

By Richard Shimblank

Special to CNET News.com

July 18, 2001, 1:20 p.m. PT

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Amanda Pehlke of Seattle donated her Aibo, named Toshi, to the Smithsonian because its represents the first robot that found its way into American homes. Toshi will be placed in the robotic collection of the Smithsonian and will join Sony’s other Smithsonian resident in the museum, a Walkman.

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The Times :: Cheeky role for 7in robot

BY LAURA PEEK

IR-V

THE world’s first interactive wireless robot was unveiled yesterday and at £49.99 looks likely to become a popular gift at Christmas.

Ir-V, also known as Internet Robot Project V, is the first toy that can be controlled at the click of a mouse without wires attaching it to a computer. It is 7in high, uses Wireless Interaction Technology to download instructions from its website, dances, avoids obstacles and speaks foreign languages.

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TNR Online | TRB From Washington: Only Human by Andrew Sullivan

Post date 07.19.01 | Issue date 07.30.01

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In one of the creepiest scenarios in Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick’s new movie A.I., there is something called a Flesh Fair. In this sci-fi fantasy, human beings have developed technology so refined that they can create mechanical humans that appear almost as real as organic ones. These “mechas” are essentially a slave class: They perform chores, replace lost children, even have their body parts distributed for various uses. At Flesh Fairs, mechas are displayed and killed for amusement, their body parts sometimes traded and reused.

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Spy-Cye Technology

Spy-Cie maps indoor area where you want to be but can’t, and takes you there to hear and see

Spy-Cie

Spy-Cye is a PC controlled personal robot. It’s ten pounds heavy, sixteen inches wide and will run around your area as you drag it on screen with your mouse. It communicates to your PC through two radio links. One link transfers robot data and the other carries live video and sound to your PC. Through this link you can see and hear what the robot sees and hears. Spy-Cye can seek out your web connection and connect through it at your command. You supply a user name and password, then from any browser anywhere, you can go to www.web-bots.com and log into your robot, send it to any destination on your map and see and hear through it.

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Tiger Toys Data Center

i-Cybie

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He uses 16 separate motors to control hundreds of actions with moveable head, tail, legs and mouth.

Intelligent sensors allow i-Cybie to avoid obstacles and prevent walking off the edge of a surface.

Advanced Voice Recognition Technology allows i-Cybie to respond and react like a real dog.

Senses night and day, sound, touch and motion.

Remote control included.

Interacts with all Robo-Chi™ pets and i-Cybie dogs.

Ages 14 and up.

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