October 5, 2006 10:51 AM PDT
This is no mere stuffed animal, but a therapeutic robot called Paro crafted to resemble a baby harp seal. Under its antibacterial fur beats a 32-bit processor, along with an array of sensors and actuators. "It can't do much except wriggle...and whine in disarming fashion," writes Hornyak, "but it does respond to its environment"--for instance, give Paro a hug and it will close its eyes as if sleeping.
It's designed to reduce stress in hospital patients and others.
Photo by Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
