Hugvie
The future tool for telepresence is here. Here’s what you need to use it: a cell phone and $50. The cell phone is to talk (of course), and the $50 is to buy a Hugvie.
The Hugvie is a strange little robot. It looks a bit like a Teletubby. It doesn’t look technological in any way. But what is its benefit? Well, the Hugvie aims to add a more personal aspect to phone calls. Using a micro-controller and two vibrating disks, Hugvie can simulate the caller’s heartbeat depending on his or her tone of voice.
Hugvie can currently be bought for only $50. It might not seem like much, but adding a personal touch to a form of communication that’s been around for a long while is pretty cool.
Hugbot
Some of you out there might be thinking: what the heck did I just watch?But this is actually a fun animation that showcases the concept that robots can exist just to hug people. And the Hugbot is utilizing this concept.
Created by UrRobot, Hugbot is a furry polar bear that goes around searching for hugs. If you’re in five or six feet of it, it will sense you and open its arms for a hug. Sounds legit, right? Everyone loves hugs. But more importantly is that through hugs, Hugbot is able to make sure that people are healthy. How?
The Hugbot actually takes your blood pressure when you hug it. Using internal microphones, it takes your pulse as you hug it, and it checks your health. It shows information on an external monitor, so that if there are any health problems, it becomes readily apparent.
The Hugbot’s uniqueness though, from blood pressure machines and the like, is that it’s so easy to hug. It’s only a short hug, and a very comfortable one at that. UrRobot wants to see the Hugbot instituted in schools, playgrounds, and children’s hospitals to share some love, and make sure that kids are all living healthy.
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