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Robot babysitter keeps kids occupied in Japanese store
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 Wearable Babysitter: it's worse than you think
Ok, we've seen some freaktastic ways to round up, watch and even threaten kids into subordination. But a new "Wearable Babysitter" concept "demonstrated" at the Ubiquitous Fashionable Computer show in Korea is set to kick your regularly scheduled babysitter into the bins of history. It all goes a little something like this: slip that big-azz spring with attached LCD and speaker over your head, hook up some "special sensors" to junior's diaper and, er, nipples (yes, nipples) and mom's free to throw back some Cosmos with the girls from work just like she used to. Then, when mister remote baby drops a big ol' Texan or apparently, gets cold, you'll be the first to know. Of course, you could just leave the kid at the coat check but that's not very hi-tech now is it? Hmm, now what shoes match a plastic baby handbag?
