The future is bright if this latest patent from Sony is anything to go on. Sony filed a rather over-the-top robotic gaming companion patent that describes the little guy as something every game could do with in their homes. According to the US Patent and Trademark Office website, the robot is depicted as a fuzzy ball of cuteness that is able to sit next to you on the couch while you play games.
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Sony describes this robotic gaming companion as a device with no mouth but a pair of eyes that can move around and show expression. The robot can also talk to the player and move its arms, legs and neck to further express how it is feeling and react to the player’s emotions. The patent explains that the robot is actually autonomous meaning it will be able to sit with you on the couch at its own will. You won’t need to place it down next to you. [perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#ED4C06″ class=”” size=”21″]If the robot feels unloved, it will change its actions towards the user[/perfectpullquote]
The robot includes what the patent describes as a “feeling deduction unit” which is able to detect and act upon the user’s emotions. This unit is able to evaluate the user’s feelings such as joy, anger, love and surprise and compare it with the user’s heart rate and temperature in order to respond and act accordingly.
Best of all, the robot can also play games with the owner and take the role of a co-op partner in specific games. The example explains that it could take the role of the opposing team during a baseball match played by the user. The patent also explains that the robot may create a “joint viewing experience” in order to motivate users to play games and share experiences with the robot if they don’t have another person around to share the experience with.
Sony describes the robotic gaming companion saying;
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#068BED” class=”” size=””]It is expected that the user’s affinity with the robot is increased and motivation for playing a game is enhanced by the robot viewing the gameplay next to the user and being pleased or sad together with the user. Further, regarding not only the game but also a movie, a television program, or the like, it is expected that the user may enjoy content more by viewing the content with the robot as compared to the case of viewing it alone.”[/perfectpullquote]
But the patent goes on to explain the device’s “love index” which will grow and change depending on how the user speaks and reacts to the robot. If the robot is going flat and the user does not plug it in, for example, the robot will calculate that the user does not love it and will react accordingly. The same goes for the way the user handles the robotic gaming companion physically. If the robot feels unloved, it will change its actions towards the user and build up an “attitude” until the user changes their behaviour towards it.
If anything, this robot sounds quite advanced and a load of fun to have around. It even tells you when to go to bed (something I would disable on day one). I know younger users will find it particularly entertaining. Would you have one of these robotic gaming companions in your house? Let us know down below.
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