Gizmodo
Move over iBuddy and Availbot, the masters of robo-companionship toys have arrived on scene. This is a WowWee Chatterbot, a USB-powered desktop companion that reacts with some motion and a bit of chattering to "trigger" words typed into emails, IM, calendar entries and the like. It's not as smart as Robosapien, of course: basically it just spouts out jokes and bits of commentary. Because we all like hellish dogs with eerie eyes responding to our typing, don't we? The video reveals the toy in action.
If the doggy version is a touch too scary for you there's also an Angel and Devil, and a Fairy Godfather version, and I'm hoping they're somewhat friendlier. The little guys were apparently shown at CES earlier this year, but we've only just caught sight of them now, in this Slashgear review. It does look like their sensitivity is a bit off, since they seem to miss some trigger words, but that's the sort of thing that may be addressed in a software update at a later date.
At least these animated toys have another function besides annoying you as you type: they have a speaker and battery-powered action so you can plug in an MP3 player and use them standalone. They're PC and Mac compatible, and are available for $49.99. [Chatterbots Online via Slashgear]
Comments
Holy hell, no one said it had GLOWING EYES.
Demo? This thing looks like Mutley!
Wow. It's like that guy who comments "but will it blend?" or "What does that have to do with gadgets?" on every post, but it's in your house and you have to pay for it. What a deal!!
It looks evil!!
this kid needs to get laid.
This sucks. Running Windows on a Mac is one thing, but if you type too fast the dog misses it? Come on.
And the glowing eyes worry me.
It is "a very entertaining thing to have on your desk?" I would crush it beneath a large, heavy object after about 5 minutes.
I think he's cute. Would be even cuter if he would lift his leg and pee on people's shoes as they stand near my desk...
Did he use Danny Devito for the voice?!
Those eyes will haunt my dreams.
I shall name it Sam... I think it's telling me to kill people...
I want something that looks like the original dog from hell.
You mean Cerberus?
He doesn't busy, he gets BIZ-ZY!
@fusedinertia: "Did he use Danny Devito for the voice?!"
No, just for the 1:1 scale modelling.
@Munch: i'd blend that. shits as creepy as it is stoopid
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