iPal: the Robo-babysitter from China

It was only a matter of time before a startup came out with a robo-babysitter.

AvatarMind claims the iPal has 25 motors that enable it to make human-like movements.

According to the company behind the iPal, the robot can talk like a 4-8 year old child, using an autonomous learning engine, and remembering preferences and interests: they claim the robot is able to feel the child emotions via  “emotion management system senses”, and to respond to “happiness, depression and loneliness”. The robot will take daily pictures and videos to record the child’s growth. The iPal has a Child Messenger app where child can video chat, share information and communicate with friend connections approved by the parents.

AvatarMind says the iPal is “an ideal companion for your child”: the robot it’s able of playing music, dancing, playing games and running apps from the Android app store. According to the company the robot can answer most questions from kids and download answers from the internet and it can teach languages, history, math, etc rewarding the child when he gets the right answer and if a child gets it wrong iPal encourages him.

According the promotional material the iPal is designed to be an example for the child, teaching him good manners.

The company claims also the robot is designed to monitor your child when the parent is away: the parents can use their phone to remotely control iPal to check the child’s safety. The parent can turn on iPal’s microphone and camera to see and hear the child, and can leave a voice, video or text message. Too much responsibility too for this device.