The New Nabaztag/tag

The new Nabaztag/tag is the updated version of the cute electronic white rabbit that sits on your counter, desk or other accessible area. By linking your Nabaztag to your Wi-Fi network, your new electronic friend will be able to tell you the weather, read your email, and relay an instant message coming your way. If this isn’t enough, the handy white rabbit can be used as an alarm clock, report the daily news, voice RSS feeds and stream MP3s. Nabaztag can read blogs, websites, radio stations in 16 languages and can independently speak 5 languages (English, French, Italian, Spanish and German). It even has the ability to free you from your computer with email alerts connecting you with your favorite social networking website.

Similar to the iDog, the Nabaztag sings, puts on a light show and dances when music is played. Though far more technologically advanced than the iDog, the Nabaztag is marketed as a “personal companion”. It obeys orders and updates you when new information comes its way. With its own personality (think Furbee) your new assistant can send messages and song play lists to other Nabaztag users. You can also have your rabbit “married” or linked to another rabbits. For example, if your significant others’ Nabatag is married to your Nabatag you can send subtle messages to him/her throughout the day. By bending the ear of your rabbit, your loved one’s rabbit’s ear will bend as well, no matter how far away you are. So throughout the work day you can send your significant other small gestures of love without saying a word. Now, that is cute.

Another feature of the Nabaztag is the use of RFID tags. Place a tag on your key chain and when you enter your Wi-Fi network range (your home, office or other area) an email can be sent to someone telling them your whereabouts. This feature is great for working parents, kids coming home from school, or people in long distance relationships.

Female Robot Tour Guide

Chinese scientist has created a female robot in Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and they claim that she is made with cutting edge technology. The inventors hope that soon they will be able to sell her to hotels, entertainers and other hospitality arenas. The cost for one of these human-like machines is $37,000 (300,000 Yuan).

Robotic Doggies Are Back

Been feeling the withdrawals since Sony’s Aibo was put down? Well a South Korean company is filling the spot with their very own robotic dog called Genibo which means “genius robot”

The Genibo, which stands a foot tall and weighs 3.3 pounds, understands 100 commands, including “sit,” “roll over” and “wag tail.” The company says it can navigate around obstacles by itself.

Source

Professor Creates Robotic Snakes

Many people do not like snakes but that didn’t stop Howie Choset from designing his own robotic reptile. The Professor made them in hopes that one day they can save lives by crawling through a collapsed building for still trapped victims. The devices are remote controlled and they have recently been able to make them slither up and around pipes.

 

  

“Right now, the way to get to these trapped survivors is to pull the rubble out one rock at a time,” Choset said. “So our dream is to have the snake robot thread through this collapsed rubble and get to victims more quickly.”

 

 

The machines are being designed to hold and carry cameras as well as sensors. Professor Choset has said that it may be another five to ten years before the snake robots are ready for use by people like FEMA, police and firefighters.

Let’s Go iFishing…

I swear, I’m going to become the specialist in poy-poys here. After Nabaztag, the first smart rabbit, and the iDogs with their cute little houses on eBay, here I give you Sega’s iFish, that I found pretty cute, I admit it freely. The iFish moves when you play music for it (him?…), but it’s not all: when connected to a digital audio device, it also creates lighting effects and sounds, as well as acts as a loudspeaker.

(Via Gizmodo.)

Nabaztag: The First Smart Rabbit

“I’m a newborn bunny, one of a unique species of intelligent, smart objects. I’m 23 cm tall, I wriggle my ears, I sing, I talk and my body lights up and pulsates with hundreds of colours. Thanks to Wi-Fi technology, I’m always connected to the Internet.” This is Nabaztag, who, for $95, will allow you to send and receive songs to/from your friends, connect the the net to get the next weather forecast, tells you when an e-mail has arrived in your box, and can even wriggle his ears.

The available data?

• Needs Wi-Fi (802.11 B or G standard)
• WEP Encryption capable
• Visual and/or audio information
• Spoken and musical messenger.
• Ability to create and program your own content and events

And more, of course, on the website.

This sure looks like a funny little one to own and use!