Japanese Robotic Cat Tail Reads Human Heart Beat

A Japanese inventor has designed a robotic cat tail that measures the heart rate of the wearer and moves according to their level of excitement.

Published

4 months ago

Categories

Seriously?, Technology

Topics

Robots, Seriously?

Places

Japan, Tokyo

Transcript

SHOTLIST: TOKYO, JAN 17, 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR of a model walking with Tailly, the bionic cat tail - Various shots of the streets of Akihabara, an electronics and video games district in Tokyo SOUNDBITE 1 Shota Ishiwatari (man), inventor of Tailly (Japanese, 23 sec): "This invention is inspired by Japanese animation. But its roots extend further back in history. In Japan, Shinto gods often had a human shape with animal features." - VAR of Shota Ishiwatari, the inventor of Tailly, showing the sensors that measure heart rate SOUNDBITE 2 - Shota Ishiwatari (man) Inventor Tailly (Japanese, 16 sec): "This tail is attached to a belt that has sensors which measure the wearer's heart rate. When the heart rate accelerates, a small engine makes the tail wag strongly, or makes slower movements when the heart rate slows down." - VAR of Shota Ishiwatari showing a screen displaying heart rate SOUNDBITE 3 Terrine (pseudonym) (woman), model (Japanese, 10 sec): "The more excited I feel, the more this tail wags. Especially when I feel happy, surprised or stressed.” - VAR of a model walking with Tailly, the bionic cat tail ------------------------------ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The cat's tail is just a prototype. Shota Ishiwatari is the founder of a company that designs objects for the technological arts. There are already many shops in Japan selling bionic cat ears, which measure brain waves and moves according to wearer's emotions. Ishiwatari is now trying to raise funds to promote "Tailly". ------------------------------------------------------