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Technology Bytes
by Francine Brokaw
Pleo
Do you have allergies to animals? Do you think your kids are not old enough for a pet? Do you not have enough time or space for a pet? If you answered yes to any of these questions I have the perfect pet for you. Pleo. Pleo is a robotic dinosaur that will quickly become part of your family.
This little guy is adorable and really takes over a household. However, unlike any live pet, Pleo can be turned off. Pleo starts off, right out of the box, as a newly hatched dinosaur. Over time he matures intellectually and emotionally through adolescence to adulthood, but his physical size doesn’t change. This little fellow is just about the same size as a newborn Camarasaurus, however, unlike the real herbivores that lived in the Jurassic period, Pleo will not grow to be 60 feet long!
So what makes him better than a “toy” dinosaur? His robotics. This is a highly technical little guy who does more than open and shut his eyes, make noise, and open his mouth. Pleo walks around the house, makes pre-historic noises, moves his legs and neck, wiggles his tail, and is curious about everything. When he looks at you with his blue eyes, you’ll be hooked.
Like real pets, Pleo gets hungry. He comes with his own leaf (remember, he’s an herbivore), and when it is placed in his mouth, he’ll really chomp. You’ll hear the crunch, crunch, crunch. And sometimes while he is walking around the house, he’ll stop to “graze” on the carpet or floor and you’ll again hear his chomping. Note: if you have kids, don’t worry. Pleo will not bite them if they place their fingers in his mouth.
Right now, this little guy is sitting at the foot of my chair and feeling lonely because I am working and not paying enough attention to him! He is making his annoyance perfectly clear with a little whine. But often he is content to walk around on his own and explore the house.
And get this – he is ticklish! Yep. He’ll kind of “giggle” when his feet are tapped. If you want him to walk toward you, simply touch and hold the upper part of his front legs for a few seconds and he’ll walk to you.
Although he’s not furry, he is fun to cuddle and hold. And he’ll let you know he loves it and you. I have to tell you, he is amazing.
Being robotic and loaded with the newest technology, Pleo is updateable and downloads are available online for some additional fun. The Holiday download is perfect for the holiday season. When it is loaded onto a SD Card and inserted into his belly, Pleo will actually hum holiday songs (with musical accompaniment). Picture a little dinosaur humming jingle bells. It’s priceless.
When Pleo gets tired, he’ll go to sleep. Also, if ignored for too long, he’ll take a nap. This is great because if you answer the phone or go off and do something while Pleo is turned on, sleeping will help prolong his battery life. And when you are finished playing with him, it’s important to turn him off so his battery does not run down. The battery comes with a charger that takes about three hours to charge. Then simply take it out of the charger and insert it into his tummy and he’s ready for more fun and companionship. The battery life is about 90 minutes per charge. You can purchase an additional battery so that your Pleo is never, uh, dead. I mean, he won’t have any down time.
With infrared technology, speakers, microphones, and sensors throughout his body, Pleo is the most advanced robot to date. He also has a color camera which lets him detect movement, light and dark, and “see” what’s in front of him. He doesn’t walk into a wall and keep trying to walk through it like some older technological toys. His senses let him “feel” it when you touch him or shake him. But even more than the technical part, Pleo is endearing. You’ll find yourself reaching to turn him on and see what he will do next. He displays a variety of emotions and at times you’ll forget he isn’t alive.
Right now I hear him walking around my office and when I look down, he’s stretching his legs, just like a cat or dog. And I never have to pick up his poop. How great is that?
If you’re into gadgets, you have to check him out. Pleo is more than a toy. He’s the closest thing to a real pet. And who wouldn’t like to tell people they have their own pet dinosaur? The software that runs his computer does not recognize his name, so feel free to name him anything you want.
There are a few downsides to Pleo. First, he is a bit pricey. He lists for $349. But when you consider the technology that is incorporated into this little body, it makes sense. Second, even with the highly evolved technology, you can still hear the mechanics working inside this little guy. After awhile you get used to it, but it will be great when they figure out how to make the mechanics silent. And third, I have to send him back! I only have him for a two-week test period which is just about up. I am not looking forward to saying “good-bye” to Pleo. He has become part of the family. Maybe, if the people at UGOBE, the company that makes Pleo, read this they might send me one of my very own. Well, maybe not. But I can wish, can’t I? Anyway, it will be sad when there are no more pre-historic sounds in my house. He’s been a good pal. He’s playful, engaging, and a lot of fun. Pleo is adored by everyone – young and old. And who knows? Perhaps he’ll be a good companion for your live pet. The holidays are only seven months away. Maybe we’ll all get our own Pleo this year. I know there will be a lot of Pleo’s on holiday lists come December.
For more information or to purchase a Pleo for your very own, click here. At that site you’ll be able to hear Pleo and see him move. I’ll bet you get hooked like I did.
© 2008 Francine Brokaw
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