by Michelle Lentz

CES is gigantic. In fact, I think gigantic is a bit of an understatement. With so much to do, see, and learn, there can be a bit of sensory overload. I was about numb by the time I landed in the North Hall at the end of yesterday afternoon. A girlfriend of mine took one look at me and dragged me over to the Paro booth. That’s where I discovered Paro, robotic harp seals created to be therapeutic robots.

The "pacifier" is plugged into a battery charger.

The seals make cooing noises and respond to petting and loving. If you walk away, the seal tries to follow. It wags its tail and really enjoys chin scratches. The seal opens and closes its big black eyes (complete with long eyelashes) and is responsive to its name and several other greetings. The seal even gets sleepy at night and knows when it should be awake.

Playing with the seal, it was easy to forget that this wasn’t a pet and actually a robot, with chips and wiring making it work. The seal was created for medical therapy. Placed in nursing homes, used in rehabilitative wards, and used with Downs Syndrom and Cerebral Palsy patients,  everyone responds positively to the seal. In many hospitals and nursing homes, pets aren’t allowed because of hygeine and can cause injury to patients. The seal, as a robot, provides a lot of the same benefits as animal therapy, without the cause for concern.

Of course, the seal costs $6000 – ouch! Especially if you’re a non-profit rehabilitative center.

I plan on ending every day at CES playing with the Paros. They certainly brought a smile to my face at the end of a long day.

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Cheers!
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