An employee of Japan's nursing care goods maker Unicare demonstrates the "tranquility chair" at the International Home Care and Rehabilitation exhibition in Tokyo on Wednesday. AFP
Posted on 10/01/2014 6:04:15 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
An employee of Japan's nursing care goods maker Unicare demonstrates the "tranquility chair" at the International Home Care and Rehabilitation exhibition in Tokyo on Wednesday. AFP
There are times in everyone’s life when only a hug will do. Now one Japanese company has come up with a chair that’s always ready to give a comforting cuddle.
The “tranquility chair” is built in the shape of a larger-than-life fabric doll with a friendly face and a fetching hat, but more importantly, it has long arms that wrap around the user in an affectionate embrace.
“It makes you feel safe. Anyone can use it, but it is designed for older people,” said a spokesman for UniCare, which is selling the chair, at the International Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition in Tokyo.
Around a quarter of Japan’s population is currently over the age of 65, a figure expected to rise to 40% in the coming decades.
The chair is priced at 46,000 yen and there is also a version adapted for wheelchair users.
Alongside specialist vehicles, beds and toilets on display at the three-day show were a variety of unusual products designed to lift the spirits of older people, who increasingly live on their own.
UniCare’s “Life Rhythm Dolls” are programmed to remind their owners to take their medicine or go to the toilet at certain times of day.
“They are comforting for people who live alone—they can talk to them and hug them. They also play old Japanese music, which is nostalgic for older people” said the company spokesman.
Also on display were baby seal robots known as “Paro” that have been making a splash in therapeutic treatment since 2004.
The cute animatronic devices, developed by Japanese automation pioneer AIST, allow people who are not allowed live pets because of apartment rules to enjoy the soothing company of a robotic creature.
“Real animals can scratch and poo, but this one won’t,” said a demonstrator at the Paro stand.
The lifelike seal cubs move, squeak and open and close their eyes in response to their surroundings—and they even get angry if you poke them.
There are currently 3,000 of the furry electronic seals in use around the world.
The Japs are really strange!
“Real animals can scratch and poo, but this one won’t”
Then it is giving an incomplete animal experience.
That’s just sad.
Ant- loneliness, isn’t that what God made dogs for?
And kittehs, too.
That looks like a clown and a queer and on a bench together...Ronald McD is queer, is he not?
... And a pervert.
Heck, Mercedes has an active seat that hugs you when you corner. Much more satisfying than a stupid chair.
Years ago the Japanese marketed a foam pillow shaped like the torso of a kneeling woman. An instant lap.
Sold like hotcakes.
They won't make more people, but instead make robots to keep themselves company.
Sad and a bit strange.
Very eerie to watch a nation decline like that; I see the same thing here in NJ as the American population disappears. There are less than ten years between my oldest and youngest children, yet class photos tell a startling tale. While 1/2 of the oldest’s class is “Anglo”, my youngest’s class has only a smattering of Anglos in a sea of Asian and South American faces...
This is our future.
Here is a rather disturbing video on the subject.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.