Tokyo –
The scientist behind a new talking robot in Japan says people should stop expecting robots to understand them, and instead try to chime in with robotic conversations.
Hiroshi Ishiguro’s 28-centimetre tall button-eyed Sota, which stands for “social talker,” is programmed to mainly talk with a fellow robot.
And, says it’s creator, it won’t be trying too hard to understand human speech – the major, and often frustrating, drawback of companion robots.
Sota, shown to reporters at a Tokyo museum Tuesday, goes on sale in July at under $850 each.
Robot maker Vstone simplified Ishiguro’s research for the mass-produced Sota.
It expects to sell 3 000 of them in the first year.
Sapa-AP