TOKYO - Sega Toys has introduced the Eternal Maiden Actualization robot, a feminine-looking android that is 15 inches tall, petite yet curvy, and plants wet ones on its owners. Officials from Sega Toys say that the big-busted Eternal Maiden Actualization (EMA) can "act like a real girlfriend."
"Strong, tough, and battle-ready are some of the words often associated with robots, but we wanted to break that stereotype and provide a robot that's sweet and interactive," said Minako Sakanoue, a spokeswoman for the toy maker. "She's very lovable, and though she's not a human, she can act like a real girlfriend."
Using her infrared sensors, the battery-powered EMA puckers up for nearby people, entering what designers call its "love mode." The singing, dancing, and business-card-handing EMA, slated for a September release exclusively in Japan, will be available for $175. Sega Toys hopes to sell 10,000 units in its first year.
However, it should be noted that the idea of robots serving as lovers should not be taken lightheartedly or considered farfetched or even new. David Levy, author of Love + Sex With Robots, has previously stated that by 2050 robots will be able to serve as human-like lovers-not just mechanical sex slaves. Within the next four years, he once claimed, advanced robots will be sold as sex toys.
To see pictures of the new robot girlfriend visit Reuters online.
