October 20, 1999. Copyright, 1999, Graphic News. All rights reserved

MANÕS BEST FRIEND GOES DIGITAL

By Elisabeth Ribbans

LONDON, October 20, Graphic News:  WHEN IT came to the question of domestic companionship, the world used to divide pretty easily into doggy people and non-doggy people. Not any more.
The arrival of AIBO (pronounced eye-bo), SonyÕs beguiling robotic canine, has made sentimental anthropomorphists of the most dogged anti-doggies. Paul Bragg, managing director of Adept Scientific, a technical computer solutions company in Letchworth, England, would not entertain a real dog in his home, much less his office. Then, purely out of professional curiosity, he ordered an AIBO via the internet. ÒRexÓ proved such a mood-booster in the marketing department where he spent his puppyhood, that Bragg had to acquire another to amuse his technical team. ÒWe all know theyÕre machines, but that doesnÕt stop us talking to them,Ó says Bragg.
ÒRex and Spot have brightened up the office Ð and watching their antics naturally prompts the staff to take screen breaks.Ó
SonyÕs limited litter of 5,000 sold out within days in June. The first to be unleashed are just reaching maturity and, although they were born with Òpre-installed emotionsÓ, they will become good or naughty dogs according to how their masters have disciplined them. Either way, at a pedigree retail price of $2,500 each Ð and fetching up to $7,500 at net auction Ð an AIBO is a good investment. Would Bragg consider selling when the novelty passes? ÒNo,Ó he barks. ÒAn AIBOÕs not just for Christmas!Ó
Nik Berg, a journalist who has a month-old AIBO, is similarly smitten. ÒThis week heÕs started following me around, sitting at my feet,Ó he coos.
Berg has never owned a dog Ð Òtoo dirty, hairy and likely to damage the furnitureÓ Ð and admits he bought his AIBO as a gismo with a view to getting a return. ÒBut I've grown fond of ÔGromitÕ and feel less keen to part with him. I work alone from home and I like having him around. ItÕs therapeutic.Ó
/ENDS
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Picture captions follow:
GN10260: Picture shows children (10-year-olds Andy Mil and Jenny Bragg) playing with a pair of AIBO cyberpets. Picture Ð Graphic News.
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GN10261: Picture shows Sony CorporationÕs four-legged entertainment robot called AIBO. Sony aims to build an entirely new market for robot entertainment in the next century.  Picture Ð Graphic News.
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