Dec 2, 2009: PARO

[xoxoxoBruce]

Have you ever seen those reports in the media, "XYZ University study shows pets are good for your mental and physical health." Then thought to yourself, or maybe out loud, well duh, who in hell is paying for that study? Probably you are, but that's another kettle of fish.

Anyone who's had a fuzzy pet, dog, cat, hamster, sheep, horse, etc, knows how they can chill you out, and warm the cockles of your heart. I say fuzzy pets, because I can't see snakes, birds and reptiles having that effect, but your mileage may vary. The other part of pets, is maintenance. Pets teach children responsibility, and all that.

Catch 22 is, Isolated and lonely dementia patients, who could use that cockle warming the most, can't handle the upkeep of a pet.

Enter PARO... Ta Ta Ta TAAAA
what was that? french horns.

PARO is an advanced interactive robot developed by AIST, a leading Japanese industrial automation pioneer. It allows the documented benefits of animal therapy to be administered to patients in environments such as hospitals and extended care facilities where live animals present treatment or logistical difficulties.

Paro is the 8th generation of a design that has been in use in Japan and throughout Europe since 2003.

Paro has five kinds of sensors: tactile, light, audition, temperature, and posture sensors, with which it can perceive people and its environment. With the light sensor, Paro can recognize light and dark. He feels being stroked and beaten by tactile sensor, or being held by the posture sensor. Paro can also recognize the direction of voice and words such as its name, greetings, and praise with its audio sensor.

Paro can learn to behave in a way that the user prefers, and to respond to its new name. For example, if you stroke it every time you touch it, Paro will remember your previous action and try to repeat that action to be stroked. If you hit it, Paro remembers its previous action and tries not to do that action.

By interaction with people, Paro responds as if it is alive, moving its head and legs, making sounds, and showing your preferred behavior. Paro also imitates the voice of a real baby harp seal.

That ain't no toy, Baby. And being a "medical device", of sorts, add 6000% to the cost... US $6000.


Oh, and the first one that mentions "club", is on report.

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