Inhuman babysitters aren't all that uncommon around the world, but a new creature recently placed in a Japanese department store is a godsend for shopaholics with rugrats in tow. Developed by Tmsuk, the 1.4-meter tall bot is employed at a Fukuoka retailer in order to keep watch over rambunctious youngsters that are dropped off by their overworked parents. Reportedly, said critter boasts an integrated projector and camera, a colorful yellow / white outfit and the ability to identify children by name based on a special tag that each kiddo wears while playing. Of course, the manufacturer isn't looking to just shove one or two of these into every store in Japan -- oh no, it's hoping to create similar robots that could one day "guide customers through the aisles of a store," fill their carts or whisper the joke of the day in a French accent into their ears.

The new ZG-0032LD from AEON has a Samsung LCD panel, 32-inches of screen, and a whole lot else to love. The 1,366 x 768 LCD is rated at 450 nits of brightness, has a 1200:1 contrast ratio, and manages a speedy 8ms of response time. On top of that, there are dual HDMI ports, two S-Video connectors, and a trio of composite jacks. This is all well and good, but AEON really sweetens the deal with the 129,800 Yen ($1,131 USD) pricetag. Sure, the looks could be spicier, and Samsung is always going to put their best panels inside their own displays, but for the HDTV buyer on a budget, AEON seems to have a winner.

[Via HD Beat]