This “strangely charming” mobile robot offers proof that we’re living in “a golden age of toys.” Place an iPhone or iPod Touch atop Romo and you can bring him to life by using a second iOS device as a remote. He can roll into a room, engage the occupant in a video chat, and change his facial expressions accordingly. But “the real magic” happens when you program in a personality. Want a shy Romo? He can be made to back away in fear whenever the phone’s camera sees a face, then creep forward with head bowed. Pick him up and he’ll giggle.
$149, romotive.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why Rikers Island will no longer be under New York City's controlThe Explainer A 'remediation manager' has been appointed to run the infamous jail
-
California may pull health care from eligible undocumented migrantsIN THE SPOTLIGHT After pushing for universal health care for all Californians regardless of immigration status, Gov. Gavin Newsom's latest budget proposal backs away from a key campaign promise
-
Is Apple breaking up with Google?Today's Big Question Google is the default search engine in the Safari browser. The emergence of artificial intelligence could change that.
