Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

I just spent a week with a robot cat and my life will never be the same
ZD Net ^ | Sept 11 2022 | Chris Matyszczyk

Posted on 10/09/2022 8:06:14 PM PDT by texas booster

The timing was perfect.

My wife and I had been debating about whether to adopt a cat.

There wasn't complete agreement. Or any, really.

Suddenly, I received an email whose subject line was so promising: "A lifelike robot cat powered by AI, because why not?"

Why not, indeed? Everything will soon be robotic, to one extent or another. Even our very selves. Why not see what it's like to live with a being that is, according to its makers, "a lifelike pet designed to offset loneliness for the elderly and provide companionship for couples, children, and families."

Elephant Robotics insists its metaCat has a "realistic ragdoll appearance." I worried about the words "realistic" and "ragdoll" being in such proximity. I'd never seen dolls that were especially realistic, but I caught on that this ragdoll is a breed of cat. It is, so the experts at Wikipedia tell me, a breed that is "best known for its docile, placid temperament, and affectionate nature."

(Excerpt) Read more at zdnet.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Hobbies; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: cats; chrismatyszczyk; elephantrobotics; robot; robotcat; robotvikingkitties; vikingkitties
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-97 next last
To: texas booster

Damien?


21 posted on 10/09/2022 8:51:48 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man

Two thoughts: and people were concerned their digital assostant or smart TV was soying on them?

... and ...

Wait till the furries want the French Maid model....


22 posted on 10/09/2022 8:55:58 PM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Rurudyne

Yep


23 posted on 10/09/2022 8:56:27 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Rurudyne

Spying ... not “soying” ... darn typos!


24 posted on 10/09/2022 8:56:54 PM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Falconspeed
Ageless Innovations

The new website for the cats mention by Falcon.

Split off from Hasbro back in 2018. Looks to be HQ in Pawtucket RI.

25 posted on 10/09/2022 9:00:14 PM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

The author might have received a freebie in return for a review?


26 posted on 10/09/2022 9:01:44 PM PDT by PghBaldy (12/14/12 - 930am -rampage begins... 12/15/12 - 1030am - Obama team scouts photo-op locations.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

It is too creepy-looking for me.

When the kid put it in granny’s lap, it looked like he was holding a dead/stuffed cat. [Amazon video]


27 posted on 10/09/2022 9:04:25 PM PDT by TomGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

Finally, a cat that coyotes won’t eat.


28 posted on 10/09/2022 9:04:59 PM PDT by Bullish (Rot'sa Ruck America. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

Does it “kneed biscuits” on your belly while you are trying to take a nap?


29 posted on 10/09/2022 9:06:11 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (Get out of the matrix and get a real life.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

And who knows what that little furball is equipped to do?

Spy on you? Monitor your speech and life style patterns?

Listen to conversations and turn you in when you express a non government approved thought?

Inject you with God knows what substances through its little fake claws?

Track your location and send in reports of where you go and who you spend time with?

Kind of like cell phones only cuter. Sort of. If they did anything about those eyes. Although I don’t think any other color would make it look less possessed.


30 posted on 10/09/2022 9:08:14 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

The article stops when I thought he was just getting started.
Maybe there will be Nine articles to complete the set,
one for each life like detail of the robo cat.
Those eyes would keep me from ever touching or even looking at it directly.


31 posted on 10/09/2022 9:12:31 PM PDT by lee martell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

AI can be a terrible enemy, or a wonderful ally. It all depends. Consider the dementia patient. Looks, behaves and feels like a real car; but can provide 24/7 security (fire / burglary/ medical ). Could detect IR and “see” circulatory problems before they become severe. Provide companionship, medical supervision, handle things like learning what the patient likes and program and set DVR programs

This tech is in its infancy, and like any tool; is inherently neither good or evil. It all depends upon how it is used


32 posted on 10/09/2022 9:20:52 PM PDT by Hodar (A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.- Burroughs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rbg81

nothin worse than a cat that ‘marks it’s territory’ all over a house- That smell can drive demons away-


33 posted on 10/09/2022 9:22:29 PM PDT by Bob434 (question)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: doorgunner69

I think you missed the point.


34 posted on 10/09/2022 9:47:13 PM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy - EVs a solution for which there is no problem)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

The robot cat sheds?


35 posted on 10/09/2022 10:22:44 PM PDT by NetAddicted (Just looking)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KarlInOhio

Does it get up on your nightstand, dresser, or counter, and knock things off to get your attention? Can it claw a roll of toilet paper to shreds, or make mincemeat out of fabric wallpaper? Can it scratch the paint or varnish off your doors? Will it steal things, then watch you drive yourself crazy looking for those things? Will it leave teeth marks in soft leather purses? Can it give your bedsheets the artistic touch of claw holes, and pulled threads?


36 posted on 10/09/2022 10:26:01 PM PDT by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

No… this is what we call a “toy.” What you’re “spending your time with” is a toy cat.


37 posted on 10/09/2022 10:32:04 PM PDT by ScottinVA (Slava Ukraini!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: texas booster
Robot dogs in cinema


38 posted on 10/09/2022 10:40:27 PM PDT by C210N (Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

Looks like it is impatiently waiting for the order from Skynet to end you.


39 posted on 10/09/2022 10:40:36 PM PDT by Flying Circus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Flying Circus; dfwgator

(impatiently waiting for the order from Skynet to end you)

I’m scared 😳😨!!!!

That cat 🐈 is not human!!!

(a test for DFWgator....)

😜🤣


40 posted on 10/09/2022 10:45:44 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-97 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson