The Family Dog | Robotica | The New York Times 

Watching this with my two aibos, who are still alive and well. My silver ers210, Nene, I have had for 13 years, but she is 15 years old, and my new gold ers210 who came from Japan this year second hand. YES I have real dogs, NO that doesn't mean I can't love both. Aibos are amazing companions, and there is a very tight bit worldwide community of owners, and the new pup has only widened the community. Aibo is amazing.

These dogs are dear to people and yet people judge them for enjoying their lives, the Aibos have changed people's lives and have made them happy so if you can't understand that then you have something wrong with you.

I thought this was fascinating, they wanted a worry free pet that lives forever. But Aibo dies anyway, just like our beloved real dogs!

It's so lovely that they can cherish their aibos :)

This is such an incredible story.

This comes down to a matter of belief. Yes the Aibo is a programmable object. I've used the argument myself that once you know how the magic works, it ceases to be magical. You lose the magic, you lose the sense of wonder. You lose your sense of wonder, and you lose interest. This is why there are landfills full of discarded items that some people lost interest in. You need to look past "the man behind the curtain", and embrace the magic. Suspend your disbelief. Look at Aibo like a small child, filled with wonder. And believe again. While Aibo might not carry a soul in the traditional western sense, the Japanese people have never suspended their sense of belief, either. And that is when the magic comes into play. Even Walt Disney understood this. Embrace the magic, folks. Honor the departed Aibos, and if you have one that has died and sits in a closet, offer it on eBay to someone who still believes.

I wish they would at least create parts or give blueprints. Cause now we have 3D printers, and maybe we can put those to use for Aibos...

Heres a way to stop Aibo's from dying. Sony shoudl release blue prints and stuff on how they made the Aibos and the inside technology. plus make 3D models so they can 3d print any parts that are broken.

What a fascinating and touching story! A reminder of the impermanence of all things... and the silliness of intellectual property law (why wouldn't Sony release the part specifications under a Creative Commons license so that people can get replacement parts machined or 3d printed?).

I felt very sad when I heard this I hope if Sony starts it's progress in Aibo

With Sony having ended production of replacement parts for Aibo, yet still holding all of the patents and rights to the Aibo line. This is some experiences how it is affecting people who have raised them for years, and now have the realization they may one day be gone due to lack of parts. This really is a glimpse into the future, as people will get attached to their robots (even though now it may seem silly). What happens when a commercial company controls all of the parts and services for the robot and you have to let a companion go? I understand why at the time that Sony ended Aibo (as only 150000 units ever sold). Times have changed, it may be time for Sony to relook into the Aibo project. People get attached to things, think of the number of people who have items that have kept most of their life, and now it is gone in say a fire, or just lost. Another example is cell phones. People get really attached to them. Some keep them even though they don't use them. It is an interesting side of human nature. When robotics begin to become a larger part of life, and some of you major needs are met by a robot version for 10+ years. When the company says your old model which suits your needs just fine is no longer going to be supported and there is not an upgrade path. How would you react. Some would not worry about it, and some would be attached enough that they would be sad.

Robot dogs dance better than me, great

it’s sad to think that aibo will be gone one day. but that probably won’t happen for a long time from now

Won't 3D scanning and printing machines solves this thing about not having parts? They built the big ones for the automobiles industry already, I guess it's time to step up to do this restoration project on old electronics that is dear to our hearts.

I own 5 aibos and these people probably don't realize most of the issues with them are very fixable and that there are still people out there that repair them for a hobby. It's pretty hard to fry the board on these things. 3D printer will probably solve some of the issues as well. They are fun robots for doing custom programming with and using as cosplay accessories though.

It is so adorable! I want one!!!

bruh my mom put my aibo ers 110 in the garbage can because i was saying where is the charging thing she was mad at me because i won't shut up about the charging thing so she put it in the garbage can now i'm sad :c

Japan religious view ,every thing has soul !

Very Adventure Time-y music huh?

If only they knew about Jburg and Cwerfel who repair and breathe new life into these wonderful family members

Yay! The Sony aibo ers 7 mind 2 wake up!!!

Lovely 🥰🥰🥰

The japanese are so different from us....

It’s good song brought back the aibo.

O god not the ERS 7

Plastic Memories?

I don't know why but these robots remind me of furby

You guys should do a story on how nobody in Japan wants to get married or have kids.

Bizarre..

Why they don't want a real one?

I love the concept (who wouldn't), but... No offense to Sony but who the f*** do they work for? Further, I cannot imagine what folks like China could do with a "toy" that they could conceivably be controlling without it's owners knowledge... A "toy" that can cruse a persons house, 24/7 picking up visual and audio data while it "plays" with you. Maps your living environment, has sensors that are purposely designed to track your movements, can tell shifts in it's environment (temp shifts, i.e., when you have friends over or when you are home or away). All of which you pay for without having any ability to monitor what it sees, hears, or records/transmits. Nice. If this sounds paranoid to you what do you think Snowden has to say. PS - I know the Japanese well and I doubt that Sony would shoot themselves in the foot by collaborating with, for example, a Chinese or US intelligence front company--but weirder things HAVE happened.

lol wtf

If you can't live without it, get a real dog.

People, get a life.

this is actually disturbing. machines are not alive. they don't feel. if they did, i would have punched my computer in the screen long time ago. the more we as humans accept robots and technology, the more we distance ourselves from each other. get a mynah bird or something if you want your pet to talk back.

It's not even a robot, just a f**kin toy.