Sharp adds robot-to-robot conversations to Poketomo
Japan’s Sharp has announced a new Poketomo character alongside a feature that lets nearby companion robots begin talking to each other. The capability is scheduled for December and supports combinations of the original and new characters. Devices must first be registered together in the same application; Sharp also outlined how several robots can share a conversation allowance.
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A second character joins the family
Sharp, the Japanese electronics company, announced a new version of its Poketomo conversational robot on 12 November. The Ore-sama character is scheduled for release in December alongside a capability for nearby robots to begin speaking to one another spontaneously. Poketomo also exists as a smartphone application, although the new interaction described in the announcement concerns the physical robots. Sharp presents the new personality as brusque in manner but attached to its user.[1], [2]
Old and new characters can interact
The robot-to-robot function is due to start on 5 December. Poketomo users must register 2 robots in the same application before using it. The feature supports combinations of the original Mujaki character and the new Ore-sama character, so the interaction is intended to include existing devices as well as the new version. When registered robots are near one another, they can start a conversation without the user initiating each exchange. These spontaneous conversations do not consume the user’s conversation allowance.[1]
Sharing the conversation allowance
Sharp also outlined a shared service arrangement for households using several robots. Registered devices can draw on a common allowance for conversations with their user, while the smartphone application is outside that arrangement. The release describes these service conditions for Japan; it also plans the new robot’s physical release in Japan and Taiwan. The development combines a new conversational personality with interaction between devices. Sharp’s companionship language describes the intended experience, without supplying an independent psychological or health evaluation.[1]
