The Future Is Here Today...Robots, Genetics, AI, Longevity, Singularity

Femisapien – Wowwee’s Female Toy Robot (Videos)

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by Aaron Saenz on November 6th, 2009
Why do robots need nipples? Why?!

Why do robots need breasts? Why?!

Wow. Just wow. I’m not sure what it says about robotics, toys, or gender studies, but the new Femisapien from Wowwee is ready to blow your mind with its mechanical wiles. Building on the success of their earlier Robosapien robot, Wowwee’s newest creation includes all the innovations of its predecessors wrapped in a feminine shell. The toy bot stands just 15 inches high but its packed with programmed moves, learning capabilities, and the desire to sing. Some of this you’re just going to have to see for yourself, check out the videos after the break.

I don’t know if the Femisapien is the first step to kinky sex androids, but Wowwee definitely infused the bot with plenty of stereotypical feminine attributes. It can perform a hip swaying runway walk, blow kisses, and sing back up to any radio in range. I’m sure someone in academia is going to write a doctoral thesis on the social implications of a gendered robot, but my guess is that Wowwee intended for Femisapien demeanor to be tongue-in-cheek. Either way, at just $90, the womanly automaton could be the 21st century version of a talking doll.

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Rovio Does for Security Cameras What Roomba Did for Vacuums

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by Aaron Saenz on September 9th, 2009

Rovio is set to watch over your house.

Rovio is set to watch over your house.

The next must-have robot has arrived. Rovio from WowWee is a mobile webcam that uses WiFi to work like a remote security camera on wheels. Access it from anywhere via computer or smart phone and you can explore your home or office with streaming audio and video. Worried about your house while you’re on vacation? Just program Rovio to roam from room to room taking snapshots, and you’ll be able to sleep soundly. Check out a promotional video from WowWee after the break.

There are few examples as fitting as Rovio for demonstrating how humans are building a world of 24-hour hi-tech surveillance. Everywhere we go, we’re going to be watched, especially as people start to use Ugolog. Government security cameras, like the CCTVs failing to stop crime in London, inspire fears of Big Brother. Personal security cameras seem to restore some of the privacy balance by allowing individuals to control the observation in their home or business. In that light, Rovio is an easy, and maybe even fun, way to make the surveillance trend work for you.

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Hand Held Projectors: Is Texas Instruments Too Widespread to Defeat?

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by Aaron Saenz on August 19th, 2009

Wowwee's Cinemin Swivel projector is just one of many hand helds using the DLP chip.

Wowwee's Cinemin Swivel projector is just one of many hand helds using the DLP chip.

When it comes to selling cool gadgets, the best technology doesn’t always win. Sometimes being popular is more important than having the best specifications. That may be true for the upcoming competition in handheld projectors. Singularity Hub recently discussed projectors in mobile phones, and there’s also a growing trend of independent plug and play versions of these devices. Texas Instruments (stock: TXN), Microvision (stock: MVIS), and 3M (stock: MMM) are all competing fiercely to dominate that trend. What strikes me, though, is the sheer number of third party companies that are adopting TI’s DLP™ technology. That chip may have already secured its spot at number one. Check out some product videos after the break.

Just the concept of a hand held projector is cool enough to give a geek the bends, the fact that we could see them in a phone is added awesomeness. As we said before, TI collaborated with Samsung to create both a mobile phone and an independent hand held device (the MBP-200) that use their pico projector. Add to that list Wowwee’s Cinemin™ Swivel, the Optoma Pico PK-101, and a projector from Bug Labs. All have specs that are in the same ballpark as the Samsung MBP-200. Take a small step up in size and you have Acer’s K10 Pico Projector, Toshiba’s TDP-F10U, Dell’s M109S, and the BenQ Joybee GPI. With this many companies using the DLP™ chip, you can bet that someone is going to find the optimized sweet spot of pricing, power, accessories, and advertising. It’s just a matter of time.

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