Japan’s bottom-scratching bot ‘buddies’ for G-8 ministers
Ministers get “buddy” humanoids
AFP – June 10 2008 7:55AM AOMORI, Japan—Cabinet ministers from the world’s biggest economies who gathered in Japan for grim talks on energy security have one tiny thing to celebrate –“i-Sobot”– the world’s smallest humanoid robot.
The Japanese hosts plan to send all 11 ministers special editions of the 16.5-centimetre robot after wowing them with the toy at a dinner on Saturday.
….according to an official from the robot’s maker Tomy Co. Ltd…”We think this represents the unique Japanese culture of cartoons and animated films that consider robots to be a ‘buddy’ …. Rather than being a machine showcasing cool technology, it is a comical character that lies down and scratches its bottom“….more…
Besides scratching it’s butt, the i-SOBOT can play drums, dance along with music, and do push-ups. It’s small enough to fit in a glovebox— the 165-mm tall robot weighs in just 350 grams—And its price tag is small too, about $240 USD, so you don’t have to be a cabinet minister to afford one.
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