Is there a little boy in the world who isn’t fascinated by robots? Probably not, but
with Japan‘s declining population, where the people are getting older, Japanese toymakers are faced with a future where the demand for toys could be in fatal decline simply because of the lack of children.
So, companies like Tomy, one of Japan‘s leading toymakers have stepped up their production on toys which not only will appeal to the under 12’s, but to grown-ups as well. Or the Otaku at least, you know, the nerds.
For instance, Tomy’s new robot, the i-SOBOT was developed with these very young men in mind, rather than the 7-year-old dressed in Miki House.
Small enough to fit in a lunchbox, the 165-mm (6.5 inch) tall robot weighs in just 350 grams (12.3 ounce) and is, according to Tomy, the world’s smallest two-legged walking robot. With a price tag of around $260, its not surprising that an ordinary parent won’t bite (making the Otaku more likely consumers), unless you’re the Beckhams, that is.
Also to be unveiled in 2007 is a modernized version of the rather bulky “Omnibot” robots from the 80’s, now considered vintage bots. The spruced up models now also dance, play musical instruments (percussion), work-out and stand up on its own should Rover knock him down.
[tags]Japanese toys,Tomy, robots, otaku[/tags]