this week practice
2001.August 11
Virtual Pet
It sounds barking mad, but people are
developing relationships with their
robot dogs, as though they were real pets.
People are adopting Sony Aibos as more convenient alternatives
for travelers
and renters who are barred from having pets. Scientists are now
even
studying the robots to see if they offer some of the therapeutic
benefits of
animal ownership. Can Aibo be an alternative real pet?
Discuss in your group:
1. Have you ever had virtual pets, like Aibo, Tamagotchi, or
Postpet?
If you havenft had virtual pets, do you want to own them?
2. Now you can buy an Aibo at 150,000 yen. If you want to have it,
do you
think it is expensive, or inexpensive?
3. Aibo is popular among people who cannot have a pet in their
circumstance.
And Aibo infatuations are becoming widespread. Do you think Aibo
can be an
alternative real pet?
4. Many companies and laboratories are studying robot technology,
and their
studies are achieving a remarkable development. Do you think what
kind of
robots will be come out?
5. If many robots appear in our society, do you think what kind
of
influences will be caused for us? Give an good example and bad
one.
@