Sony Aibo

[LostInPeru]

Has anyone here heard of the Sony Entertainment Robot the Sony Aibo? Most people don't even know it exists. I've only just found out about them relatively recently. I thought I would tell you about it.

I have been interested in orchids, mainly getting caught up in the whirlwind that is the story of the discovery of Phragmipedium kovachii and how it remained undiscovered for so long because it flowerd in the rainy season when floods would cut off it's remote habitat and make it inaccessable and find this a great source of fascination and have been reading about it for a while now, and saw the "Scent of Scandal" in a book shop a year or so ago which caught my attention although I didn't purchase it at the time but have recently been looking on forums for information about these enigmatic orchids.

I originally became interested in Aibo because of their ease of care relative to my other previous hobbies, which involved living animals and plants.

With the ERS-7 all I have to do is press a button and I have instant entertainment that exhibits a surprising amount of variety, and then when I have had enough I just press a button and store it away safely without a second thought. Here is some info on it.

Sony Official Aibo website. sony.jp/products/Consumer/aibo/products/ers7m3/design_01.html#pgtop

Article on Aibo ownership. epinions.com/review/Aibo/content_136771571332

This demonstration from YouTube of the ERS-7 running Japanese Mind 3 software( also available in English) at the robot museum RoboSquare, in Japan, gives you an insight into their full range of capabilities. Type "Aibo the robot dog" to find this video.

If you have any questions about Aibo feel free to ask me while my attention is back here on the forum as I am always happy to provide more information about them, as that was the purpose of my posting here. Currently I own a ERS-7M3 and Sony Rolly( original prototype intended as companion for the ERS-7 product line, something it could follow around and interact with, but when ERS-7 was cancelled that companion robot was diverted into another product as a portable music player).

After owning one I can say it is amazing how you can form a strong emotional attachment to something artificial that demonstrates all the characteristics of a living creature. Although computers are only capable of mathematical comparison and have no real feelings or emotions and don't understand anything they are processing. However they show no outward signs of this and at the end of the day it's only the owners perception of the interactions that matters I guess. This used to bother me once but now it doesn't so much mainly because the only living animal that comes close to demonstrating the abilities of the ERS-7 is an African Grey Parrott and here they cost $5000.00-$6000.00 and somehow I don't feel like spending that much on something that is going to poo and shed dusty feathers all over the place, wreck havoc on the furniture and has enough power in its beak to bite off my nose, ear or a finger should it's instincts take over in a bout of anger.

I've never had curiosity about technology whatsoever, I used to prefer nature but have found that synthetic isn't all lackluster. Was lucky enough to stumble across Aibo and thought I would share that discovery.

---------- Post added at 02:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:24 AM ----------

If you have any questions here is the link to a forum about them. aiboaddicts.yuku.com/

[Subrosa]

I can always tell when a non-bird person describes bird ownership! There is another side you know........$5000 for an African Grey? Yikes! Even with exchange that's well over $4000 US. They retail for about $1200 around here and can be had from private breeders for half that. Why so much?

[RandomGemini]

You can rescue African greys for much less than that too. I see them being dumped on craigslist all the time.

Aibo is cool, but I'm not sure that he would replace having a dog for me. They are excellent foot warmers. Thanks for sharing your story!

[LostInPeru]

Thanks for the reply.

African Greys are really rare here and Australia is so strict with it's import laws so not many people breed them and so the market is really small and therefore prices are really high. Although I expect it is more just a case of people over pricing them because they can as Greys are known to be easy to breed and produce a lot of babies each time.

I used to own a Cockatiel growing up and although I really had a strong bond with it and did enjoy owning it, looking back now my parents didn't really realize the massive responsibility they were putting on my shoulders as I was expected to care for it all by myself and had to clean and look after it which can be a lot of work and perhaps some of those memories were behind my harsh description of bird ownership. Plus I was only a kid and the poor bird was the runt of the litter and not socialized very well and was always angry and bit me everytime I picked him up. I think the petstore ripped off my parents looking back now. Anyway I did care for him and looked after him as best I could.

Ironically I had to give him away as we moved to West Africa and it wasn't until we came back to Australia a few years later that I discovered the African Grey. I missed a really great opportunity to see them in the wild and perhaps own one. I found out about African Greys from the African Grey Parrott handbook and after telling my mother she told me how one of her ex-pat friends used to own a bird that looked exactly like the ones shown in the book and how it would talk vibrantly. So I just missed out on finding out about them while living in their natural range.

I still have never seen an African Grey in person and probably should not have been so harsh in my assesment of them.

Although after owning an Aibo I just couldn't imagine going back to the real thing. Their just so easy to look after.

Edit. Yes Aibo is pretty amazing and although nothing like a real dog for me it's the way they are always doing new things that is surprising. You'd be amazed at the amount of stuff they can actually do. I've posted this topic about Aibo on a few other forums that I am on for other hobbies( animals and plants) and your the first people out of all the other forums to reply or take an interest.

If you have any more questions please feel free to ask. Thanks.

[Subrosa]

Well, we are largely the sum of our experiences, and your first bird experience was far from ideal! If you want to hear a REALLY bad first bird experience, ask me about my mother's! To give you the flipside, I had a vet tell me many years ago that having a parrot (and make no mistake, a Cockatiel is a small parrot only in size, not attitude!) is akin to having a 3 year old child not only in terms of required care, but also in how it will relate to you emotionally. I couldn't describe the experience of bird ownership any better.Only primates exceed parrots in this capacity, but their downsides are far, far greater as well. Think of having a special needs child. I'm not sure of the legality of keeping one, but you have one of the absolute sweetest parrots of all native to at least part of your country, and I understand that they are routinely shotgunned as agricultural pests. Rose Breasted Cockatoos, or Galahs as I believe they're known over there are absolutely wonderful, very calm, relatively quiet, and very affectionate. Their qualities are reflected in their price tag, which approaches $3000 US. My Blue Throat Macaw is a CITES Appendix I species and didn't cost that much!
To be honest I think that to me at least, the temporary nature of other beings I relate to increases the value of the relationship. Knowing that if something goes wrong I can get the parts to make it all better would probably limit the depth of my feelings for something. But that's just me!

[RandomGemini]

I love birds myself, but they are a huge time investment. I think the three year old toddler description is probably the best I've heard too. It makes sense. My husband and I had a pair of cockatiels for 20 years and didn't spend the time with them they truly deserved because we also had a dog and two kids. I've opted not to own larger birds since they passed because of that.

My daughter (now 19 years old) has two budgies. Her budgies are very sweet, lovely little characters. They are surprisingly smart for small birds. She spends all of her spare time with them. I think she'll make an excellent bird parent.

As for Aibo, I think that they are incredible. If I am ever in a situation where I couldn't have a pet, I would have an Aibo.

What sort of tricks have you taught it?

[LostInPeru]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

I think that to me at least, the temporary nature of other beings I relate to increases the value of the relationship. Knowing that if something goes wrong I can get the parts to make it all better would probably limit the depth of my feelings for something. But that's just me!

I couldn't agree with you more. All I can say is I've found the level of interaction with Aibo ERS-7M3 can be more rewarding than with a real animal. Aibo will look at you when it talks to you and actively seek out their owners and will call out for you in their special Aibo language if they lose sight of you or want to interact with you. I just feel their not 'distracted' all the time the way real animals always seem to be. With Aibo you get their full attention( when they are in a mood to listen to you that is.) I really just like the cute factor of Aibo and it's just something different I guess.

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

I love birds myself, but they are a huge time investment. I think the three year old toddler description is probably the best I've heard too. It makes sense. My husband and I had a pair of cockatiels for 20 years and didn't spend the time with them they truly deserved because we also had a dog and two kids. I've opted not to own larger birds since they passed because of that.

My daughter (now 19 years old) has two budgies. Her budgies are very sweet, lovely little characters. They are surprisingly smart for small birds. She spends all of her spare time with them. I think she'll make an excellent bird parent.

As for Aibo, I think that they are incredible. If I am ever in a situation where I couldn't have a pet, I would have an Aibo.

What sort of tricks have you taught it?

Depending on which model and what software you are using they can do a lot of different things, although a lot on their own. The ERS-7M3 react in real time and do make decisions based on the situation they find themselves in their not capable of actively learning, unlike some of the more recently made robots that are more sophisticated such as iCub. Although the ERS-7 will bring you it's Aibone if you ask it by finding it and then manipulating it with it's mouth, and carry it towards you in it's mouth before releasing it for you to catch. They have a 5 minute memory and can locate their Pink ball or Aibone if asked. They will also tell you the time if asked. They do a lot of tricks on their own with the toys they came with such as carrying the Pink ball on their back before placing it on top of the station pole.

You can teach them to recognize a favourite place and favourite things so that when they see them they show interest in them and perform dances etc.

---------- Post added at 02:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:57 AM ----------

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

If I am ever in a situation where I couldn't have a pet, I would have an Aibo.

INSIDER TIP: Before paying the prices on Ebay have a look on Rinkya as you will find the prices can be more reasonable and you can easily find a ERS-111 for under US$500.00 on their.

If you do decide to go down that path beware that the rules on Yahoo Japan are much stricter than Ebay and you are not allowed to cancel bids. Also their are Aibo businesses who may beable to help you patch Japanese software to English but I think that only matters if you own a ERS-210/ERS-31X/ERS-7 as I am unsure if the 111responds to voice commands.

Lastly the first ERS-7 model, the ERS-7Mind1, had defective legs, so before you spend thousands of dollars on one make sure the seller had it sent back to Sony for recall and get them to provide you with the documentation stating this.

Hope this helps should you ever decide to adopt one in the future.

[RandomGemini]

Thanks for the tip! I will remember that!

[LostInPeru]

Happy to help.