Kokonatchi bots are really, incredibly excited about your Twitter stream

Just when we were about to give up hope in ever finding a convenient way to check out Twitter-happenings, some students at the University of Tokyo and Waseda University have come to our rescue. Their bizarre creation is the Kokonatchi, a cuddly, gyrating robot of sorts, much in the vein of Nabaztag, that flashes multicolor LEDs and wiggles in an adorable seizure when you've got a new Tweet to look at. We're a little unclear on the software side, but it appears you can assign certain alerts and even spoken words to certain Tweet-ers or Tweet-agories. They'll be retailing this fall for around $45 a pop, and you can check them out in action after the break.

[symbian Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:26AM]

It happens only in Japan

[sweet greggo part deux Posted Jul 9th 2010 7:18AM]

omfg it's Schmoo!!!!

[neo122112 Posted Jul 9th 2010 10:54AM]

@sweet greggo part deux That's exactly what i thought! If it only shape shifted...

[vespir78 Posted Jul 9th 2010 12:18PM]

@sweet greggo part deux

Or Squishface from Sealab 2021!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHJbOS9dIl4

[One Love Posted Jul 9th 2010 4:10PM]

@symbian : Insert Kokonatchi bot in your secret place and send tweet. Now you excited too! :)

[Marmite Turkey Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:26AM]

Totally want.

[m66 Posted Jul 9th 2010 8:04AM]

@Marmite Turkey
I might want it, if it was linked to engadget instead of twitter.

[hiroo Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:28AM]

On behalf of the Japanese people, I sincerely apologize.

[darkshine Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:34AM]

Slow news day?

[Bahumbug Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:42AM]

Without reading the text, I knew this could only be made in Japan. The design is so typical annoying cutesy...

[soypancho Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:49AM]

Twitter and sex toys- together... what's the opposite of "at last"?

[teky Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:52AM]

Sometimes I wonder if there is a Japanese phrase equivalent to 'wtf?'

[greyarea Posted Jul 9th 2010 8:04AM]

@teky I believe the Japanese word you are looking for is pronounced "kawaii" ;-)

[teky Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:55AM]

Sometimes I wonder if there is a Japanese phrase equivalent to 'wtf?'

[icon808 Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:56AM]

I could really see this being used in a "Jackass" movie...

[icon808 Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:57AM]

I could really see this being used in a "Jackass" movie...

[Alex R Posted Jul 9th 2010 7:04AM]

"...wiggles in an adorable seizure when you've got a new Tweet to look at."
That's the best sequence of words I've read in a long time. I would get one of these if I could use it as an alarm clock.

[Nightwheel Posted Jul 9th 2010 7:05AM]

Hey look, it's the blob from "A Boy and his Blob".

[kitface Posted Jul 9th 2010 8:04AM]

I want one, but I really don't think I would have any use for it.

[diamonddogs Posted Jul 9th 2010 8:10AM]

They look like Adipose from Doctor Who...

[cloud858rk Posted Jul 9th 2010 9:01AM]

Is kokonatchi a typo or odd romanization?

[xxxsam Posted Jul 9th 2010 6:20PM]

@cloud858rk
The latter, and it's not as odd as the presumably official one, 'Coconatch' (see third video)... Um, because they look like coconuts... ISH? (aka not at all?)

Cute but pointless, anyhow. Kind of conflicting, personally. It makes me feel good to think people would spend effort on making something like this! Then it makes me feel bad to think people would actually buy it. :)

[GadgetNiall Posted Jul 9th 2010 12:36PM]

OMFG!! I WANT ONE!! :D

[Samurai Jack Posted Jul 9th 2010 12:47PM]

It's Gloop and Gleep! But where's Zok? I want a laser ray dragon dangnabbit!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061262/

[Eternal Density Posted Jul 12th 2010 3:48AM]

Twitter + Twister?