This adorable stuffed animal robot helps your kid stay curious
Parenting and AI aren't usually something you think of as going hand in hand, but the people behind this Kickstarter campaign have created a robot that both parents and kids will love. Parents, you know that kids ask a lot of questions. Well, get ready to let out a sign of relief — this cuddly little guy will answer all of them without ever getting annoyed.
Woobo was designed to be a companion for children that encourages their curiosity in a fun and educational way. It's cuddly and soft like a stuffed animal, but its face is a touchscreen computer loaded with songs, games, stories and other activities. The team behind Woobo wants to inspire a lifelong love of learning and believes the best way to do that is to cultivate kids' natural curiosity and creativity.
The responsive toy is totally kid friendly, with controls in the hands and ears that they can press and sensors that make Woobo react if you rub its belly or head. It's a lot like a Tickle Me Elmo or a dancing hamster, but much more sophisticated. Pressing the hand lets you interact with Woobo's activities library and pressing the ears lets you talk to Woobo and ask it questions.
Like any good tech, there's an app parents can download to control Woobo from their phones. From the app you can set reminders for your morning and evening routines and Woobo will tell them when it's time to brush their teeth, get ready for bed, and more. You can also access the full library of activities and request that they be played on Woobo from the app.
You can still get a Woobo at the super early bird price of $119, that's 40 percent off retail price. It's a great way to encourage your kid's creativity without having to answer a million questions.
According to twitter, Emily Heller is a fake geek girl and a SJW. If you ask her friends, she laughs too loud and cries at cute animal videos. Prior to Mashable, Emily wrote for CollegeHumor and Reductress and most recently worked at a very bro-y tech startup. She lives in Brooklyn with three dudes, a cat who acts like a dog and a dog who acts like a houseplant.
