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Dr. Robot Watches Over Home And More

jverbov writes "A Canadian firm has created what they call an 'intellgent personal robotic companion.' It can be wirelessly connected to your home Internet connection, has a built-in camera and speech recognition software. There's a recent article about it at the Toronto Star." This thing promises a lot, and while the price is steep, it's a lot cheaper than some other household robots due out.

11 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. And other peoples wireless internet ? by MosesJones · · Score: 5, Funny

    A whole new way of having fun, send your personal robot onto the streets to War-chalk for you.

    "I didn't do it officer, you just can't trust robots these days"

    --
    An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
  2. I can just imagine... by euxneks · · Score: 4, Funny

    In patrol mode, the bipedal robot acts as a home security system, scoping out your house for intruders. If the robot's thermal sensors detect a human in the house, the robot can e-mail to the owner or call them on their cell phone.

    [AOL voice] You've got Intruders! [/AOL voice]

    --
    in girum imus nocte et consumimur igni
  3. Re:Won't fly high. by HorrorIsland · · Score: 5, Funny
    Since it's canadian, it won't have a built-in gun, thus removing much of whatever appeal it may have for gun-crazy yankees.

    Are you kidding? It'd make a great target!

  4. The pinacle of home robotics by ealar+dlanvuli · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think we will have reached the pinacle of home robotics when I go to get my 3am Ice Cream and the fridge says "I'm sorry, I can't do that Dave".

    --
    I live in a giant bucket.
  5. human looks? by simbonk · · Score: 4, Funny

    >>"But he said it was important to make the robot look as human as possible, so people would think it was smart."

    -I beg to differ.

    "-You see here the problem is somwhere between the keybaord and the chair"

  6. I dunno... by lingqi · · Score: 5, Funny

    If my kids are going to be anything like the kids that I hope they will be, they will:

    1) Jam the Robot's wireless frequency
    2) Hack the firmware and play a loop-back video of them doing homework.
    3) Rewrite AI in Aibo and the robot to deathmatch mode and take bets.
    etc

    but realistically, kids will probabbly

    1) knock robot down with chair, accidentally or otherwise
    2) sit on it, accidentally or otherwise
    3) spray ketchup onto it, accidentally or otherwise
    4) go swimming with it, accidentally or otherwise
    you get the idea

    either way - to make a robot "kids proof" is a tall order - i am not sure if this flimsy looking thing fills it.

    --

    My life in the land of the rising sun.

  7. Dr. Robot by Bob+Vila's+Hammer · · Score: 4, Funny

    "If the robot's thermal sensors detect a human in the house, the robot can e-mail to the owner or call them on their cell phone."

    *ring ring
    Owner: "Hello?"

    Robot: "A warm humanoid mass is robbing your house. Video has been sent to your email, enjoy. Thank you for choosing Dr. Robot."

    --


    --"The perfect example of the man of action is the suicide." - William Carlos Williams
  8. Angry Home Robots? by nucal · · Score: 4, Funny
    From the FAQ
    IV. Personalities and Emotions
    In addition, Dr Robot Inc. has planned to develop unique personalities and emotions of the robot based on the relationship with its owner. Personalities such as playful and shy, as well as emotions (such as happiness, sadness, fear, dislike, surprise, and anger) can be expressed by the robot via sophisticated voice synthesis and body language to hold intelligent conversation with its owner and other people.

    Great - the mechanized psycho home companion ...

  9. Dr. Robot? by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 5, Funny

    You know times are tough when you need a doctoral degree simply to be an evil robot slave.

    - A.P.

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  10. Re:Learning algorithms and Cyberdyne Systems by SirSlud · · Score: 4, Funny

    > Is connecting an AI unit to the NET really an ethically responsible thing to do?

    Its certainly more ethical than connecting it to dot-NET!

    --
    "Old man yells at systemd"
  11. Re:Modular Robots by MsGeek · · Score: 4, Funny

    ROBO MOD TIME!!! Just add some neon and a few windows...d00d! /\/\y 31337 m0dd3d r0b0t r0x0rz!!!!

    Now to add water cooling and overclock that sucka...

    --
    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.