2024-10-15 09:46:00
Time.news – There was a time when the alternative to a dog, a cat, any pet, was technological and was called Tamagotchi: a little electronic game, monochrome display and huge pixels for a little puppet who had to be given food, water and cuddles following more or less precise times, otherwise the virtual “puppy” would even be dead. A global exploit. But in fact, just an exploit because instead of making children and adolescents (but also adults) responsible in anticipation of a real puppy or a simple replacement, it caused anxiety to rise.
In Japan, where the idea was born, there were even movements to protect psychologically destroyed children from the sudden death of their Tamagotchi. The toy, sold in millions of copies and imitated all over the world, never really died. It still resists. Except that now it risks disappearing definitively because it is decidedly limited and ugly compared to what it is Casio is about to put it into circulation.
The Japanese company has launched pre-orders for a furry robot capable of cuddling its owner and capable of inspiring real feelings of affection. What’s more: lacking attention will not lead to a bad death for the ‘puppy’ but will make it a stressed, anxious animal, just like a dog or cat that suffers from abandonment syndrome. Very realistic, maybe even too realistic. With somewhat limited, but very realistic movements, sound effects and then the sensation of touch, they will make Moflin more than a complex toy. It will also be equipped with artificial intelligence, capable of perceiving the mood of its owner and ‘adjusting’ based on that.
And Moflin will learn over time to recognize different situations. In short, how witness the growth of a puppy by spending 398 dollars for pre-order. Moflin will arrive on the market on November 7th. But there’s no point in deluding yourself that it will be like having a real puppy without having to worry about frequent and expensive visits to the vet. Moflin also has its problems: it could get stuck, it could lose hair. And Casio thought about it a subscription to solve any inconvenience should it show up, but it costs $44 a year for cleaning, fur replacement and any necessary repairs.
It won’t be the robot dog Greetings from Sony and it actually costs a lot less. In fact, it cannot carry out useful tasks, because it is thought of as an anti-stress, a cuddle. And perhaps he will have a better life than the Tamagotchi, because unlike the infernal pocket video game, Moflin, even when he becomes sad, will not make eloquent sounds, precisely so as not to make his owner anxious.
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