A horror movie in the make

April 3, 2007 11:17 PM

More companion robots! Another in a series (see PARO, previously) of healing toys for Japan's rapidly greying population, Yumel the Healing Partner from Tomy. Like some kind of unholy cross between a Cabbage Patch Kid and Teddy Ruxpin, you can see a promotional clip of the doll here, or read a list of translated stock phrases (thank you Harper's). Also, an interesting article from the Economist about WHY the Japanese love robots so. (Hint: it's Shinto)
posted by ikahime (3 comments total)

Interesting stuff, indeed. From the Economist article:

Japan['s] population has peaked, [and] somebody—or something—needs to fill the gap ... Many workers from low-wage countries are eager to work in Japan. The Philippines, for example, has over 350,000 trained nurses, and has been pleading with Japan—which accepts only a token few—to let more in.... But the consensus among Japanese is that visions of a future in which immigrant workers live harmoniously and unobtrusively in Japan are pure fancy. Making humanoid robots is clearly the simple and practical way to go.

So — comfort "women", 2.0? (They'd be well advised to steer clear of the leggy blonde variant, however.)
posted by rob511 at 4:35 AM on April 4, 2007

I opened the link to the list of phrases long before i read it so I ended up thinking it was a weird poem.
posted by subtle_squid at 7:27 AM on April 4, 2007

These half-baked technological "solutions" wont work and just continue to show the world that Japan has no tolerance for foreigner workers and immigrants. They should make a machine that points this out.
posted by damn dirty ape at 12:54 PM on April 4, 2007