NEC's tasting robot gives culinary advice

Just what we all need, a robotic replica of good ol' Ma's voice bellowing at us to eat our peas. NEC's "Health/Food Advice Robot" can both taste-test and give advice on health and eating habits. Its taste buds (or whatever the heck it uses) are discriminating enough to tell the difference between various types of cheeses. It can analyze the composition of your food via infrared, and warn you if that extra helping of Manwich will relegate you to an extra session on the treadmill. No word on whether it can be pressed into service detecting cyanide slipped in by would-be assassins. Anybody else find it odd (and creepy) that the tasting robot has no mouth?

[hiros @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I found it creepy, too. Beside being able to taste sugar, salt, or iron inside enclosed containers. This one could "taste me" and say "I recommend you to eat more fat. You have only 13% of it.". Thanks tiny doctor.

[calbear81 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Introducing... *drum roll* .. the new NY Times Food Critic!

[VVV @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

As long as you don't say it is USB powered I'm all for it

[jcharney @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I'd think it would be creepier if it DID have a mouth...

[Yezzir Joe, sir. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

"It's taste bud's, or whatever the heck it uses" is actually an infrared sensor in one of the robot�s �hands.� When you put a piece of food up to the sensor, it will blast it infrared at different wavelengths, and depending on the reverb, the robot can determine what food it is. This is surprisingly (for me, anyway) accurate � the �Health and Foodstuff Adviser Robot� can distinguish between different types of bread and cheese.

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

does it like insert its fingers in the apple and scramble it's brains or something? Its kinda hamster lookin' heh
~Ryan~

[rebo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

i thinks it's cool! i have always loved the R100 and paperos! NEC needs to make US versions and sell them! i wanted one since i first saw them back in 99.