NEC announced an improved version of their "PaPeRo" robot, the "PaPeRo 2005." While they failed to clarify what it is for, a number of things are specific: it has 8 microphones, has echo cancellation to recognize voice even while speaking, and somehow manages to recognize handwritten characters shown in front of its camera eyes. Moreover, it can do simple mathematics in this fashion. Stick a piece of paper with "6 x 2" written on it in front of the robot's face and it will respond "twelve." I feel at a tad sorry for the thing not having arms, though; how else is it supposed to fight the Aibo?

Press Release [NEC]

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