Seniors often need the company and love from a pet, but aren’t able to take proper care of one. That’s where Hasbro’s new companion stuffed animals come in.
The line is called Joy For All. It starts with a robotic cat that is made to give some extra comfort to seniors without them worrying about taking care of the animal.
The Joy For All cat is priced at $99. It features motion sensors, lights sensors. It can respond very cat-like to being hugged, held, petted. There is even a small motor inside the toy which realistically mimics cat purrs both by vibration and sound.
The robotic cat has a personality. It will sometimes push towards you as you pet it, to show you it wants more. If you are good at back scratching, eventually the cat will roll and want you to give it a belly rub.
The company doesn’t give much details about how the robotic companion cat is actually working. It does say it is battery powered and comes with a set of four C-sized batteries. When you leave the cat alone for a few minutes, it will close its eyes and appear to fall asleep. This will also help preserve the battery life.
Hasbro is already working on other robotic companion animals to add to the Joy For All Line. So far it is only the cat which is offered in three colors. Hasbro’s official site says:
We believe that the power of play can bring joy to people at all stages of life, and we’ve heard from our friends, fans, and consumers that some of our toys and games are especially appealing to seniors and enhance meaningful interactions with their loved ones.
These foundational insights inspired us to create HASBRO’S JOY FOR ALL products, beginning with JOY FOR ALL Companion Pets, which have been carefully adapted to inspire delight, companionship, and engagement for all generations.
Famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson once told The Huffington Post: “Cars have replaced horses. Home security systems have replaced guard dogs. Internet kittens are cuter than your kittens. Pooper-scooper laws are unnecessary for cuddly stuffed animals on your bed. And your pet bird should have never been kept in a cage to begin with. Robot pets are inevitable. And possibly overdue.” Maybe he’s right? Here are more thoughts on whether robots can replace pets or toys in the future.
