So Thirsty for Love
Introducing Japan's "Pleasure Droids"

Well, I've always thought that the Japanese were on the cutting edge of technology, but I may have to repeal my comment. Or actually, maybe they're long on technology but short on love.

For now there is a robot entitled "Eternal Maiden Actualization Robot," which allows men to kiss it as they would a girlfriend. Now, I'm not exactly sure how that would work, but I know from experience that I would much rather have a pair of soft lips attached to a real person than some piece of plastic that simply simulates kissing.

Although their abortion rate is not as crazy-high as China's, I am sure that the people of Japan are experiencing a population deficit, causing some men to trade in the real thing for something that only simulates love and will never actually satisfy them.

What truly gets me is they think that this acts like a real girlfriend. You mean, like someone who you can sacrifice and serve? Sure, I may be able to change the robot's armor, but if these guys think that it is going to prepare them for a real relationship, they've got another thing coming. Just as blow-up dolls don't satisfy, this little robot is simply going to cost a little more while leaving them just as empty.

Oh, and don't forget to click on this link--The video is definitely worth a laugh....but maybe nervously, because with our lack of understanding real love, we may be replacing humans with robots.


Japan's robot for lonely men (+video)
9:13AM Wednesday June 18, 2008
Sega's new Eternal Maiden Actualisation robot enters 'love mode' when a human head gets close. Photo / Reuters

TOKYO - She is big-busted, petite, very friendly, and she runs on batteries.

A Japanese firm has produced a 38 cm (15 inch) tall robotic girlfriend that kisses on command, to go on sale in September for around US$175, with a target market of lonely adult men.

Using her infrared sensors and battery power, the diminutive damsel named "EMA" puckers up for nearby human heads, entering what designers call its "love mode".

"Strong, tough and battle-ready are some of the words often associated with robots, but we wanted to break that stereotype and provide a robot that's sweet and interactive," said Minako Sakanoue, a spokeswoman for the maker, Sega Toys.

"She's very lovable and though she's not a human, she can act like a real girlfriend."

EMA, which stands for Eternal Maiden Actualisation, can also hand out business cards, sing and dance, with Sega hoping to sell 10,000 in the first year.

Japan, home to almost half the world's 800,000 industrial robots, envisions a $10-billion market for artificial intelligence in a decade.

REUTERS