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Dream Cat Venus An Android's Dream
The Dream Cat Venus is an autonomous robotic feline that will be available for about $110 in Japan later this month. Made by Sega, it is the latest version of the Yume Neko (2 videos) which was originally available in 2007.
As far as I can tell, it can blink its camera lens eyes and wash its face and body with realistic cat motions. The press release claims that Prof. Kawashima Riyuuta Institute on Aging Medicine, Tohoku University has studied the effects of playing with the Dream Cat Venus on the prefrontal cortex of users. He claims that playing with this robotic cat will help prevent aging of the brain and improve overall brain function.
(Dream Cat Venus)
Take a look at this video of the Dream Cat; it's pretty realistic, for a robot.
With its realistic movements and camera lens eyes, the Dream Cat Venus is able to see through its eyes - its vidlenses. Just like the electric cat mentioned in Philip K. Dick's 1968 classic Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
...he had picked up the first malfunctioning animal for the day. An electric cat: it lay in the plastic dust-proof carrying cage in the rear of the truck and panted erratically. You'd almost think it was real, Isadore observed as he headed back to the Van Ness Pet Hospital - that carefully misnamed little enterprise which barely existed in the tough, competitive field of false-animal repair...The electric mechanism, within its compellingly authentic-style gray pelt, gurgled and blew bubbles, its vidlenses glassy, its metal jaws locked together
Dog owners rejoice - take a look at the Dog Wan robot video; cat lovers, see the Dream Cat video. Read additional quotes about Dick's electric sheep. Find out more in this press release. Story via Gizmodo.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 7/6/2009)
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