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Toshiba's ApriPoko: a Remote Controller Companion Robot
Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 6:37 PM on March 26, 2008
Toshiba's new robot pal is basically a voice-operated infrared universal remote control, heavy on the cuteness. Programmed to be fairly smart, he'll wait until you use a controller for your electronics, then ask you what you were doing: the next time you want to perform the same action, you just have to tell ApriPoko to do it for you. He'll then wave his IR transmitter arm and *bing*, on goes your TV. He's even equipped with a camera to identify users, presumably to learn their habits. For now he's just an R&D demonstrator device, and is limited to simple commands. We hope we're right in expecting the technology to make its way into consumer gadgets soon. [Robot Watch]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
dankell
Posted 9:39 PM 26/3/08
OMG it's Pintsize!
[questionablecontent.net]
dankell
CubFan81
Posted 9:39 PM 26/3/08
It also kind of looks like an early prototype of that "female" robot from the new Wall-E trailer.
CubFan81
montecristo
Posted 9:39 PM 26/3/08
love it!
fun stuff. a good example of a gadget that the chick you brought home will adore. that thing just signals "guy must have a good heart". never mind that you'll dump her the next day.
montecristo
Arelar
Posted 9:39 PM 26/3/08
finally technology allows us to switch channels without those darn old-timey remote controllers
Arelar
Balance_In_Life (PSN)
Posted 9:39 PM 26/3/08
If this was say... under 200 bucks, would really think about buying one. This thing looks like it would A: Fuck with my cat to the point of comedy gold and B: would kinda be a cool remote.
Balance_In_Life (PSN)
SinistarX
Posted 11:18 PM 26/3/08
Aw HELL naw! Have we learned nothing from the attack of the Universal Remonster???
SinistarX
fastmike
Posted 11:18 PM 26/3/08
holy Shit......it looks better than the robot I already have....... called wife lol
fastmike
kylo4
Posted 11:18 PM 26/3/08
"No Apri, I really don't want to watch G4 right now. Please switch the channel o-....No, not Adam Sessler!"
Hopefully it just does what it's supposed to. Price it reasonably (just over $100) and I'd pick one up.
kylo4
Mandatory_Field
Posted 11:18 PM 26/3/08
Alice?...
Mandatory_Field
Stacky Botrus
Posted 11:18 PM 26/3/08
I'd pork it.
Stacky Botrus
Klappstuhl
Posted 1:34 AM 27/3/08
Daaaaaawww.
Klappstuhl
wizardofpants
Posted 1:34 AM 27/3/08
Totally wants. I like the 'look' of concentration the lines on the head give it. It aims to please its masters.
wizardofpants
jetexas
Posted 1:34 AM 27/3/08
I want one.
But hopefully it does voice recognition better than Vista. I set that up on my media center to impress the ladies, but when the TV/stereo is blaring it can't hear/understand your commands.
jetexas
maxcalvino
Posted 1:34 AM 27/3/08
I want one
maxcalvino
feckineejit
Posted 1:34 AM 27/3/08
Make one that can follow me around and I'll buy it.
feckineejit
TheCyberBob
Posted 1:34 AM 27/3/08
Kinda looks like the bastard child of the unholy union between an owl and a penguin. Still... for lack of a better word this mutant is adorable.
TheCyberBob
flyboy
Posted 1:34 AM 27/3/08
it looks like a baby turtle.
flyboy
gizak
Posted 3:38 AM 27/3/08
Cool idea, hopefully it's voice recognition is good enough to work through the sound already blaring out your tv/stereo.
gizak
gadgetfanatic
Posted 3:38 AM 27/3/08
He/she/it looks like a bird of some kind.
gadgetfanatic
lunarstreaker
Posted 5:45 AM 27/3/08
How kool! Lard-ass will not even have to reach for the remote, anymore.
lunarstreaker
the_amazing_doug
Posted 9:45 AM 27/3/08
ZOMG . I . must . have . one.
the_amazing_doug
MickyK
Posted 11:47 AM 27/3/08
Maybe if they gave it a nice little tank bottom so it could move from room to room then i would buy it.
I kinda have a feeling that this won't be cheap...
MickyK
dasnake
Posted 2:19 AM 28/3/08
Finally a remote for my dad so he wont have to pick up remotes just to turn something on!
dasnake