June 30th, 2009
MyDeskFriend: Robotic penguin connects you to your Facebook friends
It’s no lie that people love penguins. Just look at the slew of penguin movies that have come out in the last few years: “Happy Feet,” “March of the Penguins,” “Madagascar,” and the list goes on. So, to aid in our obsession, Swiss company Arimaz has come out with MyDeskFriend — a little robotic penguin friend that connects to your Facebook account.
Although I don’t understand why the penguin has to be wearing a visor, MyDeskFriend acts as a sort of friend mediator. It connects wirelessly to your Facebook account, and reads your messages and feeds to you. I’m not sure what the penguin voice sounds like, but I’m sure it’s as terrifying as the robot itself.
MyDeskFriend has five different moods, which you can distinguish with the color of its eyes. Yellow equals happy, while red equals irate. It’s similar to a Tamaguchi in the way that you have to take care of it and satisfy it’s robot-needs, such as food, exercise, and medication. Your friends can also help you through Facebook, so you’re not in this alone.
The robot not only responds to voice, but it also reacts to poking, shaking, and “cherishing,” whatever that means.
You’ll have to wait a few months for your own penguin friend. The MyDeskFriends will be available in September for $99.
Watch the video after the jump.
[Via NewLaunches.com]
Jennifer R. Bergen is a journalist and blogger living in New York City. See her full profile and disclosure of her industry affiliations.
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