From: Christopher Whipple (crw@well.com)
Date: Fri Oct 25 2002 - 15:16:06 MDT
Networking is a good idea. A year or two ago there were those small
toys that could "learn" from each other - I forget what they're
called.... furbies?
When I think of "stuffed animal" and "technology" I think of the
following components:
- exterior cover/skin/fur
- chassis
- low-power electrical components (LEDs)
- higher-powered electrical components (voice-box, data bank, motors)
- battery
As each of these areas improve over time, so do the possibilities of
their application in stuffed animals. More skin-like skin, more
fur-like fur. Lighter chassis. Perhaps the use of OLEDs? Greater
data storage density. Batteries with longer life - maybe a fuel cell?
As PDAs and digital assistant software are becoming more prevalent in
the marketplace, I wouldn't be surprised to see some of this
functionality ported to an Aibo-like device. As personal assistants
get more personal, are consumers going to want them embodied?
For those on this list that are really forward-thinking, that sort of
device would probably be old-hat. If the functionality can live in
your computer, why externalize it? It might help slow tech-adopters to
have a "plastic pal that's fun to be with" -- as long as it's not too
paranoid.
:)
-crw.
On Thursday, October 24, 2002, at 12:12 AM, Extropian Agro Forestry
Ventures Inc. wrote:
> Networking of the toys to make them full fledged personal assistants.
> Broader functionality and cuter than a pda or cellphone. Able to
> act as mobile remote viewer devices for personal and security use.
> Embeded sophisticated programming and backdoors to
> the NSA are also possible add-ins to link your living room to a global
> surveilence network.
>
> Morris Johnson, Chief Technology Officer
> Road 707 South, Box 33, Beaubier, S0C-0H0
> and #2 -1st Ave West , Lake Alma (formerly Lake Alma School), S0C-1M0
> 306-447-4944, megao@sk.sympatico.ca
> “manufacturers of the LIFESPAN medical food bar”
>
>
> John Grigg wrote:
>
>> The latest episode of Scientific American Frontiers had a fascinating
>> segment about the blending of MIT labs technical know-how with
>> Hollywood special effects wizardry(Stan Winston) to create a highly
>> interactive robot any young child would want to take home! I admit
>> to being very curious to know where the project will be a year or two
>> from now.
>>
>> The age of the supertoy is beginning...
>>
>> http://www.pbs.org/saf/1303/segments/1303-4.htm
>>
>> My question to the entire list is this, where do you think
>> interactive "stuffed animal" technology will be five, ten, and even
>> twenty years from now?
>>
>> thank you,
>>
>> John
>>
>> ____________________________________________________________
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>
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