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Skateboarding AIBO
psyconaut writes "Sony continues it's line of robotic pets with a new accessory: a $249 skateboard! Why on earth you'd actually want your AIBO to zoom around on a skateboard is another question. The U.S. AIBO site has it here, but the thing looks more impressive on the Japanase AIBO site. Other new AIBO products also seem to include, FINALLY, a self charging station so AIBO can feed himself."
a ROBOTIC skateboard! No actual physical effort involved - just sit on your backside and watch it!
Video Game cheats, hints a
Cause, really, nothing says "I'm a counter culture rebel, fighting the establishment" like an Aibo on a skateboard.
Visit Richard Gere's Ass Zoo
tcd004
When's the AIBO pooper scooper coming out?
Why on earth you'd actually want your AIBO to zoom around on a skateboard is another question.
If there was ever a question to which "because you can" is the answer, this is it.
"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance" - Derek Bok
I bet these things will be showing up for kids under the Christmas tree (or insert festival of your choice). I get a catalog called "Lifestyle Fascination" which rivals Hammacher Schlemmer for gadget psychosis. Sharper Image is strictly farm league.
The incredible thing is, this stuff really does sell. Really. Someone liked this stuff enough to post this article. And here I'd thought we'd hit the price/value nadir back in the 70's with disco and the Pet Rock.
How long before someone...
Hate me!
It Looks to me like it pushes it self along with its legs...couldnt you get the same effrct with a piece of ply wood and some skateboard wheels?
So it can finally chase cars, of course!
The only problem is the reaction of irate motorists being chased by an annoying, skateboarding robot-dog. Once they overcame their initial surprise, could they resist the temptation to brake and reverse?
....till people start making trojans for AIBO's and use them to attack people. :)
Well... though these things fail to catch my attention just as much as 3d-screens do, I did some reading up on it... and... well - it seems to me there are a couple of things wrong with the whole concept (besides it being completely stupid ;).
;)
:| ).
/me waves a finger at Sony (NO, not the indecent one). "Shame on you Sony!"
First of, I am simply unable to see who the buyers are... Is it just me, or do "real" geeks look down on this stuff? Then who's left? Tech-geeks? Probably kids with (too) rich parents... which leads me to the second thing I don't get: THE PRICE OF THE GODDAMN SOFTWARE!
It seems, that you can modify your small doggish robot with some software... but the price is $ 449.00(!!) This puts it out of reach of most kids, as they wont be able to utilize it anyway. Maybe at a tenth of the price, the kids who get the robot in the first place can convince their parents to buy the software as well...
Hmm... anyone working on a open source program to replace the Sony stuff?
Ohh... and another thing: Sony should be ashamed of themselves for claiming that this is an example of AI! Really... the most advanced models (with the CPU clock speed of 384MHz) have only 75 responses. If it were to approach any kind of true AI, it seems to me that it would at the very least have to have a learning-routine and some storage (besides the 16 MB that can be used for stuff like storing snapshots...
...And go down to your local humane society and adopt a puppy instead.
For the price of the skateboard, you could have everything taken care of, including shots, and for the price of an AIBO, you would have enough money to feed it for its lifetime.
Though they probably will never be able to skateboard, a warm, loving puppy with emotions and feelings will warm your heart in ways a cheesy, overpriced piece of plastic toy cannot.
We are losing our humanity with our silly toys, and we need to get back to real feelings of love and joy.
Many dogs aren't euthanized -- they are instead killed for sport by sadists who run the pound. Right now, there is a mistreated, lonely, and cold dog in your town's pound that is meant for you -- go out and adopt it.
Another way to live vicariously through my purchases...I never could skateboard, but dog gone-it, my AIBO can!
I'll form my OWN solar system! With blackjack! And hookers!
Skateboards, eh?
I'm just waiting for the day when all of these Aibo's get bored with filming their skateboarding, and start filming Aibos racing themselves in shopping carts and smashing themselves into a brick wall for kicks.
"Hey dude, you broke your left navigational antenna. DUDE, IT'S BROKEN. That's so funny dude! Yip yip!"
"Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
is listed under accessories.
War-dog-walking, anyone?
The latest Slashdot meme.
AP is reporting that the legendary Tony Hawk is hanging up his skateboard, and moving on to bigger and better things.
When asked what prompted his departure from the sport, Mr. Hawk replied "I don't know how I can compete against this. I mean sure, the thing probably can't method to save it's ass, but that kind of cuteness just sucks the life out of the sport. I figure I'll just take up base jumping or something. It'll be at least a couple more years before that job-stealing, mechanical fleatrap can open a parachute. I hope."
Seriously, why are the Japanese so obsessed with robots? Whenever there's a new robot toy that has no real practical purpose whatsoever, it's usually the Japanese who come up with it. Why?
Partly its a demonstration of technical supremacy by Japanese companies. Whatever else, AIBO is an amazing technological achievement and Sony want the World to know. Here in the UK, AIBO is heading a large Sony advertising campaign for everything from WEGA, to in-car-stereo to digital cameras.
Another part is that many Japanese cannot have pets - either because of rules in apartments, or that they simply work so long that they cannot care for animals. AIBO fulfills the need for companionship perfectly. He plays when you want to play, he goes to sleep at the touch of a button.
Finally, it seems that the Japanese have a much more ready acceptance of robots as being colleagues, pets or friends. They are willing to welcome them into society, whereas we in the West have been traditionally far more fearful of the implications of such technologies.
Mind you, when I've taken my AIBOs out on University outreach days, its been hard to contain the crush of people wanting to meet the robots - and not just children, adults of all ages are fascinated by them. Dogs and cats on the other hand are much less impressed.
Best wishes,
Mike.