Pleo's movements appear to be fluid and lifelike, not robotic. The dino's maker contends that the toy will be able to feel emotions, too.

mcclatchy-tribune

Other articles by Joe Kirby:

It'll be sequel city

Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Health Care
CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Health Care
Dependable Health Services
Physical Therapists

Pleo is a revolutionary robot.

Take a good look at the adorable toy figure. It probably won't be the last time you see it, but this may be as close as you'll come to what will surely be one of this year's most talked-about gadgets.

Its name is Pleo. While it looks like your typical toy dinosaur, it's far from it. Embedded under its greenish synthetic skin is an army of sensors, motors and microprocessors that its creators say allow Pleo (pronounced PLEE-O) to sense sights, sound and touch.

Online videos of the miniature Camarasaurus (a plant-eating dino) show its movements to be fluid and lifelike, not stiff and, well . . . robotic, like your traditional bucket of bolts. Most significantly, the toy's maker, Ugobe, contends Pleo will be able to feel emotions such as joy and anger and that, with enough interaction, the dinosaur will be able to learn, like a real dog or cat.

Let's just say Barney is going to have his hands full remaining the most popular dinosaur among the school-age set.

Pleo marks the latest chapter in society's fascination and love affair with robots. From literature to television to film, robots seem to hold a special place in our hearts. More often than not, they are trusty companions (think Rosie the Robot from "The Jetsons" and C-3PO from "Star Wars"), but they can display a darker, more sinister side (think "The Matrix" and Will Smith's "I, Robot").

More and more, robots have gained a foothold in the real world. For example, Honda, Sony and Toyota have fully embraced the concept of building a humanoid robot, fashioning two-legged and wheeled devices that dance, play instruments and may eventually serve as personal assistants to humans.

Robots have also become a favorite of U.S. retailers, who've found gold in their ability to perform a bevy of dreaded household chores. The Roomba — a popular cleaning gadget — is one of a growing series of robotic devices that vacuum rugs, mop floors or clean pools with little human supervision.

Their appeal isn't lost in the toy aisle either, where shelves have bulged with robotic pets and action figures, from Sony and other manufacturers, that bark, karate chop and interact in a variety of ways with their surroundings.

But none of those robots have had the look or feel of Pleo, or its pedigree.

The long-neck dinosaur is the brainchild of Caleb Chung, who helped create the Furby, a must-have of the 1990s that spurred an interest in robotic toys. This time, Chung set his sights on creating a device that interacted with humans on a more complex level than furrowing its eyebrows or giggling uncontrollably.

As a result, Pleo — about the size of a teacup dog — has been programmed to express emotions similar to those of a weeks-old dinosaur.

The tiny handful stretches when it awakens, whimpers when frightened and fears for its safety near ledges — just like a real pet.

Pleo's range of activities and emotions can be modified via online software and include nipping, coughing, yawning, snoring and expressing joy, anger and fear — emboldening Ugobe to proclaim it to be "the first truly autonomous life-form."

While that notion is arguable and a bit of marketing hyperbole, less in question may be Pleo's appeal to young children (who have an affinity for dinosaurs and mechanical devices) and gadget-happy adults with expendable income.

Still, will consumers be curious or inspired enough to spend $200 on a robot toy? Can Pleo, a sophisticated piece of hardware, survive the rough-and-tumble day-to-day of modern kids?

Again, take a good look. If the answer to either of those questions is yes, Pleo could inspire a new oxymoron: cutting-edge dinosaur.