Toshiba's new sidekick robots
The solution to modern-day crumbling community infrastructure which leaves young children and the elderly without caregivers? Robots! Toshiba introed two new domestic "companion" bots designed to accompany their owners on outings, be helpful carrying items on shopping trips, and look after the young and the old. "ApriAttenda" literally moves forward when its owner moves, stops when they stop, and calls out if contact is lost — the robot tracks the individual's position against the real-life landscape by recognizing characteristics such as the color and texture of the person's clothes. The "Apri sharp ear" robot is outfitted with six microphones that allow it to detect the direction of six different voices, parse what they've said, and respond to an appropriate repertoire of commands. The bots won't be commercially available for another five or six years, so we'll unfortunately all have to resort to the old analog method of making real friends until then.
