Can Cherry 2000 be Far Off?

A Japanese firm has created man’s perfect plaything — a girlfriend that kisses on command and can be shut-off anytime he pleases.

Well, the technology is still a tad away from the robotic girlfriend models in “Cherry 2000″ or that robotic bride belonging to Mr. Universe in “Serenity,” but the new Eternal Maiden Actualisation (E.M.A), while just a toy, is a start.

The 15 inch tall robot that uses infrared sensors, runs on batteries and can enter a “love mode” (whatever that might mean for a 38cm robotic doll) and is ready to go on sale this September, will have lonely adult males as its primary market. If you are a member of the Lonely Hearts Club and want 24/7 companionship that you can slip in your back pocket and take anywhere, it will set you back about $175 (USD).

Of course the company, Sega Toys, has the future in mind and it might not be too many more years before the robotic babes will be full grown and capable of far more than just puckering up for a kiss.

“She’s very lovable and though she’s not a human, she can act like a real girlfriend,” stated a spokesperson for Sega Toys.

While this may seem a bit strange to those living in the West, in Japan it is quite common to have robots as part of your everyday life. Currently Japan is home to over 800,000 industrial robots and countless robotic toys and appliances can be found actively interacting with adults and children in millions of Japanese homes.

When A.I. becomes commonplace, it likely will be Japan that makes the breakthrough and be the most adaptable.

[Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon]