The Cellar Image of the Day

Have you ever seen those reports in the media, "XYZ University study shows pets are good for your mental and physical health." Then thought to yourself, or maybe out loud, well duh, who in hell is paying for that study? Probably you are, but that's another kettle of fish.

Anyone who's had a fuzzy pet, dog, cat, hamster, sheep, horse, etc, knows how they can chill you out, and warm the cockles of your heart. I say fuzzy pets, because I can't see snakes, birds and reptiles having that effect, but your mileage may vary.

The other part of pets, is maintenance. Pets teach children responsibility, and all that.

Catch 22 is, Isolated and lonely dementia patients, who could use that cockle warming the most, can't handle the upkeep of a pet.

Enter PARO... Ta Ta Ta TAAAA
what was that? french horns.

Quote:

PARO is an advanced interactive robot developed by AIST, a leading Japanese industrial automation pioneer. It allows the documented benefits of animal therapy to be administered to patients in environments such as hospitals and extended care facilities where live animals present treatment or logistical difficulties.

Paro is the 8th generation of a design that has been in use in Japan and throughout Europe since 2003.

Paro has five kinds of sensors: tactile, light, audition, temperature, and posture sensors, with which it can perceive people and its environment. With the light sensor, Paro can recognize light and dark. He feels being stroked and beaten by tactile sensor, or being held by the posture sensor. Paro can also recognize the direction of voice and words such as its name, greetings, and praise with its audio sensor.

Paro can learn to behave in a way that the user prefers, and to respond to its new name. For example, if you stroke it every time you touch it, Paro will remember your previous action and try to repeat that action to be stroked. If you hit it, Paro remembers its previous action and tries not to do that action.

By interaction with people, Paro responds as if it is alive, moving its head and legs, making sounds, and showing your preferred behavior. Paro also imitates the voice of a real baby harp seal.

Does it have sensors to feel the inevitable shotgun blasts?

Too bad they have to kill a baby harp seal to cover each one they make..

I want to hear the sounds it makes in a Rottwiler's mouth!

I feel the urge to go ...uh--

I mean, join the ...uh--

I wonder if anyone told The Sierra ...uh--

I'll be quiet...

Wait a minute ... you're supposed to beat it? Surely the old people are going to need a ____ for that.

US $6,000? Hell, for that I could get a place with a yard and a real life pedigreed dog. And I wouldn't beat the dog either.

We only have $200ish left on our flexaccount thingie.... I wonder if they'll go on sale?

It looks like something you could win at the fair.

Or perhaps train to keep its head down.

whoa! let's not get too talky there, talky tuba....

three posts in 3 years! let me get a word in edgewise whydontcha!

what do baby seals drink??

.

wait for it.....

...

I TOTALLY just wrote a joke

IP logs will show I visit religiously 5 times a week in the direction of IOTD.

I just forgot I had an account, I'm kinda reclusive.

i agree. a quiz it is!

1. ON average....do you win the belly bucking encounter?

2. would you rather fight a polar bear or a tiger?

3. on your hotdog: ketchup or mustard?

4. what should you have been arrested for?

5. 7 x 8

6. if you were to play a 3 digit daily lottery, what are your numbers?

7. how long should you microwave popcorn?

8. what is your sign?

9. what was the best idea you ever had?

10. do you feel lucky punk? do ya? huh?

I made it back home safely without handcuffs.

They don't vend Lottery at night here and the pick 3 betting looks kind of complicated but I will figure it out and bet soon.

Hi there Tuba Loons, I don't know if we have any tubas here for you but there are a couple of Sousaphone fans around here somewhere, would you like to meet them?

I forgot to buy a Lottery ticket, but the number comes out in an hour, I think. So we will see if 034 038 or 056 win. That's what I woulda bet on but the actual betting seems more complicated, I couldn't figure it out even on the lottery web site and the little card has a lot of boxes. Hoo nose.

edit: the winning numbers were 900

I'll try to post more, I feel like I know most of you from visiting for so many years and reading the iotd page. I like your brand of fun, jim and bruce and toad. And your merry band of female elephant tamers. The forum is hidden behind the curtain of the iotd page. It's almost as if the bbq chatter is part of the deal but where does it come from? I bet a lot of lurkers never look behind it to see a functional, well-mannered forum.

I'll go to BAT for that one, it is a neat idea, I work in a hospital with Mental patients every day, and having witnessed electro-shock therapy as well as heavy chemical sedation, I think any idea that can advance the therapy for patients such as that is a great idea.

I mean, you just can't beat that with a stick!!!
I'm HOOKed

I don't actually know how to play the tuba but I'm glad we won the lottery by not playing.

Also training the $6k AI animatronic animal to not pop out of a hole with a mallet blow is still hilarious to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xhaos01

tyvm, your modship.

I only wish you all the best de-lurks in the world forever.