The Male Robot Companion (MaRC) - a review
The way to sell to a man is to mark the product as exclusive and double the price.The way to sell to a woman is to say she can have two for the price of one.
This is the main reason female robot companions have been the focus of the developers - simpler demands, and a higher return on investment.
The male would have to be far more complex, AND cheap enough to BOGOF (buy one get one free) (what a birthday present for a friend, eh?) Still, the male robot is seen as a programming challenge, research has been ongoing, and I was fortunate enough to be given a prototype to put through its paces. My review follows.
Comments (23)
I thought the last was the least plastic-looking, but eventually, in theory, they’ll be available with any face the buyer fancies. Unlike online types picking a handsome photograph and pretending it is their own, this will actually look like the chosen face. Okay a 3D copy of the chosen face but hey.
It has only three expressions (caring, happy, or thoughtful) (controlled by the remote)
It can’t drive -
Well, it’s early days.
They did ask what other features I thought the average woman would find essential in a MaRC and I promised to blog about it and ask. Simple but essential stuff, remember, the price has to be kept down for that BOGOF.
Noting most women customers engage the cease talk function before engaging the hip function.
Male robots need companionship.
Straight into the technical heart of the development, too. You have the mind-set to be joining the design team
It's the spider-removing function I find the most vital, though.
The MaRC is an android, so fully human in appearance, no additional attachments. An Edward Scissorhands type was considered and rejected.
Can only say any plagiarism was unintended
Nah, no-one who had an option on a sword-wielding defender of the home would want a robot anyway
DON'T SETTLE, MAI!
Hold Out For A Sword Wielding Conversationalist
DOWN WITH ROBOTS!
SWORD WIELDING HUMANS PREVAIL!