Woof! AIBO No Longer to the Rescue

Sony announced this week that they would stop production of AIBO, their lovable robot dog, as ‘part of a rationalization of the Sony product line’. Maybe they should just re-target their client list. It seems that AIBO robots were used successfully to replace animal-assisted therapy in a Japanese nursing home. AIBO was demonstrated to severely-demented elderly people. They began by looking at, communicating with, and caring for AIBO. They recognized that AIBO was a robot, but once he was dressed, he was perceived as a dog or a baby. The benefit – increased communications between the patients and AIBO – was achieved without risk of a bite or exposure to animal germs.

People who can afford AIBO – about $2,000 - are delighted with him (or her). It’s a sad day for dog lovers. But for those who hope for a humanoid robot to help with the housework and be a butler, too, there’s hope; other Japanese companies are engaged in making such ideal servants. As for Alzheimer’s patients – we can’t help thinking that the real thing (i.e. a live dog) would have far more success that a robot, no matter how cute. At least, that’s the case for heart patients, according to latest reports.