Baby simulator surfaces in Japan, Devo wants its mascot back (video)
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted December 18th 2009 7:31PM
posted December 18th 2009 7:31PM
When we first saw Yotaro baby simulator we thought: "we've seen this ugly robot before." And no, weren't thinking about Keiko, the robot patient currently seeing action in teaching hospitals in Japan. It just so happens that robot in question has more than a passing resemblance to Booji Boy, a character beloved to Devo fans world-wide. The robot, developed at the University of Tsukuba, is designed to teach people about childcare and parenting by portraying various facial expressions, movements, and physiological traits associated with babies, relying on a Rube Goldberg-esque array of water tanks, projectors, sensors, and sophisticated emotion control software to respond to your actions appropriately. If you think it looks strange above, wait until you see it in action! Check it out after the break.
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Japan needs to create a non-totally-F***ING-INSANE-idea simulator to filter out some of the crazy
@yulebellow
hell NO... that why we love japan because they create what we imagine when we are high, without being high .....probably.
@yulebellow
Nah they're just looking for another reason to help along their plummeting birth rates. I mean you mess with this thing for two weeks and you'll be too freaked out to ever have an actually baby.
@yulebellow I don't understand why it's so big, and scary looking and weird. They should just play a commercial for a nanny service instead of this sort of thing.
I am now thoroughly creeped out
@sip
and offended, as a human
@(Unverified)
Agreed, they've honestly crossed the line with this shit.
@(Unverified) and offended, as a computerised simulation of a baby myself
@sip
yeah, this is just fucked up.
They gonna make transformers someday, I guess.
I'd call this sick, I hope the authorities put everybody who's involved with that on a damn watchlist..
It's the responsible thing to do.
What ever happened to Cabbage Patch Kids?
@Chas Percodani
They grew up. http://s143626603.onlinehome.us/__oneclick_uploads/2007/07/p5170048.JPG
@ROFL I blame the economy. Poor Mike...
@ROFL Hey, that looks like W. Bush :)
@ROFL What is happening to that woman in the background lol.
I am a man. I can't have kids. Now I can.
@NAME
WTF DUDE!!!!!!!!!!! SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
The problem is that Japan doesn't have enough real babies to practice on. This is the kind of invention an aging society with terminal demographics produces. It's kind of tragic.
@Blacknimbus
Population: 127,590,000
And anyway, if you don't have enough babies to practice on then what are they practicing for?
look like a bulimic queen brahn from ffix.
@NAME despite your grammatical errors and history of being a 5-star douche, you managed to 1-up yourself. Congratulations.
Vorlon
@NAME
Let me guess, she said no?
She's your mom, it's illegal. And gross.
@NAME what's your problem? Did your mother not breast feed you?
@NAME
Trying to eradicate the human species?
That thing is really freaky. Also will it "die" if you don't feed it, if so then where can I get one?
@NAME Killing soooooooooo IS the solution - Killing of botched eugenics experiments like yourself.
why would you want to simulate all the worst parts of having babies? (sans the pain of birth)
Finally! Definitive proof that Japan is not fucking crazy.
*cringe*
Could be a shock to have a real baby, only to find out that its not as big, doesn't have bear-like ears, has a real face and a body ;-)
Honestly, i saw some stills but didn't get the hype. i wasn't sold until i saw it in motion. i mean, you think to yourself "this isn't real", but looking at those realistic facial animations, i just don't care. James Cameron's done it again.