CNBC story today "Maybe Tiger Should Have Rented a Robo

[cameron]

Maybe Tiger Should Have Rented a Robot?
Published: Wednesday, 16 Dec 2009 | 11:57 AM ET Text Size
By: Jane Wells
CNBC Correspondent
Here in this season of holiness, I'm bombarded with more than the usual quotient of stories about...sex.

The Pew Internet & American Life Project this week reports that 15 percent of 12-to-17-year-olds have received nude or nearly nude messages on their phones. Nice. The AP reports that The Shady Lady Ranch in Nevada as applied to be the first legal brothel to use male prostitutes ("We don't know how to structure the men's pricing yet," the owner says). Great. 　

Yes, I could turn away from these stories. Maybe next year. Oh, who am I kidding? 　


Source: engadget.com
Actroid

In that vein, here is the most audacious story to pop into my email box.

A Japanese company called Kokoro, owned by Sanrio–the same folks behind Hello Kitty–makes lifelike female robots.

Now, I don't really know how lifelike these robots are–if you get my meaning–but I'm assuming they're not just being manufactured for their great personalities.

The company's website promises "Rentals available!"

I couldn't find a price.

There are several videos on YouTube showing the evolution of the robots from the mute smiling original in 2006, to those who now actually speak and can answer a few questions.