Robo-nanny The £120 toy that can play with your child and even teach mindfulness!
IT’S a far cry from Mary Poppins, but this furry £120 robot toy can reportedly act as nanny to your child – and even sing lullabies before bed.
Woobo can also play charades and teach children about different cultures.
The cuddly toy, which resembles a Furby from the late 90s, will be unveiled in the US next week.
It is the ‘fuzzy robot version of an imaginary friend every child dreams of’, the manufacturer claims.
Videos show Woobo waking a child up, telling her to brush her teeth and even helping to set up an obstacle course. The toy also gives youngsters breathing exercises and teaches skills such as mindfulness.
‘I would love to be your friend, you are super-cool,’ Woobo tells a young girl in a publicity clip.
Children can also ask it questions such as: ‘Why is the sky blue?’. Tejasvi Desai, a spokesman for the company based in Boston, US, said: ‘It’s basically providing your kid with a companion who can answer the million questions they have during the day and they can connect with someone they think is their own age.
‘It is about having a fuzzy, cuddly friend who can go about the day with them.’
The toy is controlled via an app, with parents able to set alarms for when a child is woken and how long they should brush their teeth for.
Its creators, graduates of American universities Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have already pre-sold 4,000 devices in just two months in the US.
Soon, they will expand to China and Canada, with a launch in Britain expected by 2020. At a cost of $149 (£118), ‘gender neutral’ Woobo comes in teal, pink and violet, but only has one voice option which can be changed in pitch. This allows the child to choose the gender of the toy for themselves.
Feng Tan, the firm’s chief executive who has a PhD in robotics, decided to create Woobo after realising most children would love to meet their imaginary friend.
The device can also stand in for parents, with features such as playing a voice message to a child when a mother or father cannot get home in time to say goodnight.
Critics may dismiss Woobo, designed for four- to eight-year-olds, as another way for parents to palm their children off by sticking them in front of a screen. But its creators claim this is not so.
Miss Desai said: ‘It is just about being kid- friendly and kid- safe rather than sticking a mobile phone or a screen in their face, this is an interactive friend they can really bond with.’ It also steps in as a mentor, urging children to think about how they would act in certain situations, such as if a classmate was being bullied or if they did not like a meal at a friend’s house.
Privacy concerns are shrugged off, with creators saying that unlike smart speakers, which listen for prompts such as ‘Hey Google’ or ‘Alexa’, Woobo only jumps into action when its ears are touched.
The device looks like a normal cuddly toy – but has a screen for a face. It also has sensors on its paws and tummy, reacting to hugs and tickles. The robot, which will be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week, will be crowned best toy for play and learn in the baby tech awards, chosen by website Babylist.
Another launch at the show is a robot pet called Kiki, which teaches skills such as empathy and respect.
‘Providing your kid with a companion’