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Paro the Therapeutic Robot Baby Seal

Posted by samzenpus on from the we're-gonna-need-a-bigger-club dept.

Mike writes "Paro is a therapeutic baby seal robot that is exploring new dimensions in animal therapy. Created to act as a companion for hospital patients and the elderly, the adorable baby harp seal bot aims to increase relaxation and decrease stress. Paro can sense and respond to its immediate environment through five integrated sensors that detect touch, light, sound, temperature, and posture, and it is even capable of learning and responding to a name."

7 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Yes, but can he.... by FooAtWFU · · Score: 2, Funny

    Can he swim underwater like a real seal? .... and if you inflate him with helium, does he fly?

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    1. Re:Yes, but can he.... by dargaud · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Can he swim underwater like a real seal?

      I know attempting a serious answer to a discussion riddled with baby seal jokes is rather useless, but baby seals can't swim until they lose their bay fur which provides insulation only against cold air, not cold water.

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  2. Stress Relief by qpawn · · Score: 3, Funny

    Provide a wooden club alongside these baby seals to help people release their stress.

    You could sell them as a package. I've got the perfect slogan: 2 Seals, 1 Club.

  3. Therapeutic by pete-classic · · Score: 4, Funny

    They're not kidding when they say these are therapeutic. I just clubbed the shit out of a half-a-dozen of these things, and I haven't felt this good since I got back from the Arctic!

    -Peter

  4. Bad idea! by DrMrLordX · · Score: 3, Funny

    You're going to have to paint Paro's fur orange so as to deter poachers. I don't imagine that a patient's stress levels would be very low after seeing their baby seal buddy clubbed into oblivion.

  5. Mental Commitment Robot Seal, Love You Long Time by Phizzle · · Score: 3, Informative

    really old news here, this was covered all over the place about a year ago - like here http://www.gadgetking.com/2008/08/21/mental-commitment-robot-seal-love-you-long-time/

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  6. Deja vu by Nux'd · · Score: 2, Interesting

    A reminder.