November 13, 2001

5:38 PM

Necorois a robotic cat that looks more like a cat than a robot. This site is only available in Japanese, but check out the photo and movie galleries. (I saw this thing mentioned in a Reuters article about the new "human-like" Honda robot).
posted by edlundart (17 comments total)

Oh, and here is the press release from Omron.
posted by edlundart at 5:42 PM on November 13, 2001

He looks like Toonces.
posted by donkeyschlong at 5:56 PM on November 13, 2001

Cool link.

... but so much wrong with Necoro, not least of which is the fact his "his" name instantly recalls death. And second, the Shrek effect: something about adding the fur makes it look less real than Aibo, much as the pseudo-reality of Shrek's characters made them more disconcerting/glaringly unrealistic than regular old cartoons.

Freaky.
posted by Sinner at 6:01 PM on November 13, 2001

Do androids dream of electric sheep?
posted by aladfar at 6:07 PM on November 13, 2001

"his" name instantly recalls death

For westerners maybe, but "neko" is japanese for cat.
posted by MrBaliHai at 6:15 PM on November 13, 2001

I definitely see your point about the fur, Sinner. I personally think Aibo is a cooler object (I feel weird using that term but it is an object after all...) because it is so clearly a robot and it doesn't try to hide it.
posted by edlundart at 6:28 PM on November 13, 2001

If you want a cold, aloof, uncaring pet, why not just get a real cat?

*ducking*
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:34 PM on November 13, 2001

I don't know. The still photos looked pretty dumb, but the movements of the girl petting the thing in the longest movie were somewhat realistic. It'll be interesting to see what Necoro 4.0 will be like.
posted by crunchland at 6:39 PM on November 13, 2001

i like this little guy even better.
posted by atom128 at 7:01 PM on November 13, 2001

I agree Donkey.. The theme song to Toonces popped into my head as soon as I saw that picture.
posted by Hildago at 9:00 PM on November 13, 2001

Watch out, Stephen Hawkings going to recommend we alter our DNA again, because those things are going to take over the goddamned planet.
posted by trioperative at 9:44 PM on November 13, 2001

I'd love to test one of these little mothers on our three very territorial cats. Can you get insurance for them? :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 12:01 AM on November 14, 2001

Sony is releasing cooler AIBO to appeal to teenage boys. This follows their release of Latte and Macaron, aiming for the cute factor.

The "ro" in Necoro is from "robot." If anybody cares. IN fact, even if you don`t care.

atom128, thanks for posting a link to the world's cutest robot.
posted by chiheisen at 12:29 AM on November 14, 2001

Two words: Pet Sematary
posted by Optamystic at 12:30 AM on November 14, 2001

OK this looks impressively more like a cat than (for example) the Aibo looks like a dog, although I understand and agree with sinner's point. Yet from a distance you might think this was a cat (not sure about the movement)

But it kind of reminds me of the cat from "Pet Semetary"

After it came back from the dead.

Miguel what about the PaPeRo? Tie a piece of string onto that and let it go and I think your cats would be endlessly occupied chasing after it. You see how robots make our lives easier?
posted by lucien at 12:43 AM on November 14, 2001

Oops, *snap*
posted by lucien at 12:44 AM on November 14, 2001

Great minds, lucien. :)
posted by Optamystic at 12:55 AM on November 14, 2001