Software gives Aibo ability to converse

Software gives Aibo ability to converse

Keywords: Sony, Robots, Voice recognition

Sony Corporation and Namco Ltd have jointly developed a software that gives the Aibo pet robot the ability to "converse". Up to this time, these robots have had voice recognition functions that allow them to respond to voice prompts from users by making electronic sounds or by flashing a light on their heads. With the new software, though, Aibo robots will be able to respond verbally to their owners for the first time. To keep up with its end of the conversation, a robot installed with the special software is now able to say, for example, "I am hungry" or "I am sleepy." The software is a memory stick format, which is now on the market and is designed for use with Aibo in Sony's ERS300, at a price of¥8,000. Sony is located at Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo.