The terrifying Probo in pictures and video
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Apr 23rd 2009 1:22AM
posted Apr 23rd 2009 1:22AM
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yAH PRETTY CREEPY
I wonder what kind of probing Probo does...
Probo clones dinosaurs via DINO DNA!
Alf has gone Green for Earth Day!
I thought the Furby era was over.
I can't see them selling cheap trashy versions of this at McDonalds, although I think one of these things took my order at the drive-thru the other night >_>...
I dont know why,
but it reminds me more of Wallace and Grommet
That's exactly what I was thinking. It's the eyebrows...
Ah...nightmare fuel. Why did I have to check engadget right before bed?
And I thought Probo was creepy with his skin on.
Now we need machines to give our kids hugs !
Don't you get it? He doesn't give hugs.
His name is Probo...
Snuffleupagus isn't real, I tell you!
I've always been afraid of Alf since if was a kid. it looks scarier than aliens.
Oh come on. Not worth the time to watch it.
The simple interaction shown in this video has existed in robotics for years.
I would not let my children near that...thing
That doesn't look unhappy or creepy. Just high as a kite.
That's exactly what I thought!
And how exactly is it intelligent?
It's not creepy or scary, but it does look rather clunky and unpolished. I actually found its appearance worsened by the skin. It's done all wrong, and the machine as a whole does not create a convincing illusion of being living or emotional, particularly of being friendly. To me it does not look scary or friendly; it's just a thing, which says to me they have not achieved their objective.
The decision to put an actual display on the robot is strange and further distances it from any semblance of being a living, emotional being. Could they not separate the display from the actual robot and have it communicate with it wireless instead?
it's a nice project with a noble goal, and my hat goes off to the people working on it, but I'd say at this point it's not very impressive and needs a lot of work before achieving what it sets out to do.
Clearly, both Dr.Light and Dr. Willy have had a hand in this androids development. Shots required to make 'explode' have yet to be determined.
looks like a greened out "alf" from that old school tv show. the martian one... farkk takes me back
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALF_(TV_series)
Nudity !!!
http://www.safetyshoes.my
YOU GOT PROBED!
Ribbed for your pleasure.
Chuck E. Cheese can rest easy.
D:
The BSOD just got a pair of arms and a head. Can't get any more creapy than this.
A BSOD joke! Hilarious! I forgot all about those. Do they even exist anymore? Got any right click jokes about Apple mice?
Vintage!
"And I want Funzo's dream fortress, Funzo's lower back pain chair, Funzo's European Voltage converter..."
-The Simpsons
Put some brown fur on it and it's alf
Eh, the Japanese do this stuff more convincingly, and creepily.
The big floppy baby robot was far creepier.
I cannot explain this comment but...
It looks Dutch to me. Must be the square head.
Also, is it me or does the thing have a disapproving look on its face?
Teenage mutant cyber paedo
Someone should cover him in flesh-colored latex. Some "artist" somewhere is going to get famous doing that, mark my words.
It's like Alf's crappy cousin...Ralph.
You Still gotta love em' =D
Probo walks into a bar...bartender says "Why the long face"? Probo replies "I was built this way!"
i believe his real name is Alf
I wonder if it runs on cat juice? And says, "Hey, Willie! HA!"
seems it likes people to touch his nipples,cause he smiles .. :O
ok, who's building the robot to help kids get over meeting probo?
GEE, THANKS A LOT GUYS!
Now that I've properly soiled myself, might as well watch the video...it can't be any creepier than....
OHGOD
Do you really believe we are supported by Bill Gates himself, always funny to see how easy people just copy-paste information from the web without checking if it is true or not. Great journalism! We just received some free software from Microsoft. Building robots cost a lot of money, so then it is nice to get some support.
This is a first prototype and everyone who has ever build a robot knows how difficult it is. Especially to handle 20 compliant actuators. I think it is a unique robot platform to study human-robot interaction with a focus on hospitalised children.
That would be scary if that got some virus (if it runs windows or something, Bill Gates helped for Pete's sake!)