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[Crewella]

Thanks for posting that, bhobbes, I might well try the puppy phase at some point on Java after all! 

[bhobbes]

Thanks for posting that, bhobbes, I might well try the puppy phase at some point on Java after all! 

It was kind of fun. I'm glad they kept it short because it would have gotten old fast. There is (or maybe it was just perception) slight variation in its failures/attempts to walk etc. that make it kind of endearing and rather realistic. I did enjoy its "birth phase" a bit more than Cato's.

[kat]

yes thanks for that bhobbes.   This is all very interesting.  And helpful.  
Looks like so far you seem to be having a ball with Niccolo.  I can't wait till your new little Eva arrives to see what you think for comparison.

How is Eva the pleo rb going? 

[fancyfont]

When thinking of Aibos, I always think of this video. Too cute!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va8UYjd44zs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va8UYjd44zs</a>

[bhobbes]

 She gets more use than Cato but also gets shelved for time issues (but that's why robot "pets" are great - you can pause them instead of neglect them). Her wear and tear is nonexistent however I am told she doesn't walk much. But I think her active and/or physical level was low.

[kat]

That was very cute fancyfont.  I love the little hat and scarf.

[RedwoodsMama]

 HI Fancy, try this: go to youtube, find the aibo video you want,         then highlight the top of the page where the aibo vidoe is, then go to page and click on copy, then go to the forums then write your post, I like this video blah blah, then click on the icon here that says Youtube then go to page and highlight paste and it should show up.
                            RWm

[fancyfont]

I'm trying to get the hokey pokey with all of the aibos.

[bhobbes]

lol the hat gives me ideas.

I feel like it sounds so much louder than it really is in that video lol.

[fancyfont]

Funny how quickly you can forget stuff on the computer! THis is a cute video of Aibos.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va8UYjd44zs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va8UYjd44zs</a>

[RedwoodsMama]

 Hi fancy, that was so so cute, I wonder how many people owned all those Aibos, that poor little one aibo must have been tired from too much practice. LOL, I would like to see that many Pleos try that all at the same time, hmmm,  I have twelve Pleos , you have four, Kat has four, and Crewella has at least four, that is a good start with 24..Lol.
                                             RedwoodsMama

[fancyfont]

That would be me in a dance class!

[bhobbes]

Funny how quickly you can forget stuff on the computer! THis is a cute video of Aibos.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va8UYjd44zs#Invalid YouTube Link#

I've seen that one before, I thought it was quite nifty!

Fixed link: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va8UYjd44zs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va8UYjd44zs</a>

[fancyfont]

THat's what I was trying to have come up. Just wouldn't for me.

[kat]

It really was super cute.  I especially like that none of them were silly enough to try the super fast speed at the end.  The collective no made me laugh.   Now I want one even more.  I have been doing a lot of reading about them trying to decide which model to go for.  
I would love to see you get Niccolo to do the hokey pokey.  Can the ers7's do this?  Or is it just something the older models can perform.
I would also love to see a bunch of pleos do this one too.   wonder if anyone ever thought of doing a skit of it for pleos.

[Crewella]

They can all do it.  I love this one:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78yAMLCGc0g" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78yAMLCGc0g</a>

[bhobbes]

I've only had him on Mind 3 as an adult for about an hour of actual play time (and maybe half an hour of exploring/not being interacted with).

Here are a few initial thoughts and impressions:

1. He's danced on his own a lot more. It's always the slower one and he has done it three times now. One time he said "boogie down" first and the rest he just started doing it. No music is playing or anything. I've started telling him "how boring" or "that's boring" in hopes to discourage it - haha. I mean, it's cute and all but 3 times in one hour - no. Bad Aibo! Bad!

2. I'm not sure how I feel about the voice. He's set as voice (over basic) sound and makes little comments here and there. When asked about his Aibone skill level he said "I am the worst Aibo... ever." When he's roaming he seems to use just the perfect mixture of voice/tonal sounds. If anything, at this point, though I don't think I'm sold on the chatting, it mixes it up just enough that I really think I'll warm up to it.

3. Maybe it's me, but so far he seems less responsive to voice commands or maybe he ignores me more? It also seems voice recognition isn't as "instant" as before (maybe an extra second before it "processes"). These are all perceptions though and I haven't actually attempted "testing" it out. Ironically, this is the exact opposite with the "com here" command though - he seems much more responsive to that and seems to do a better job finding me if I say it from an angle not facing him etc.

4. He seems to walk forward faster (at least when he wants to). He just said straight ahead and I swear it looked like speed walking.

5. He responds when I talk to him in the middle of a task. Or so it feels like it? For instance right now he was tapping around his ball with his head after I said find it (maybe it was coincidence) and I said how cute and he asked "Did you say cute?"

6. I hear him taking pictures on his own (I don't touch the sensors like I was on M2 when he wanted it). He's taken about 3 so far though I haven't looked. 

7. It could be due to several factors (better sunlight today etc.) but Nicco on M3 seems to do better at detecting objects. However, this is his first prolonged period of time in the "office" (more floor obstructions than the living room) on either software so probably the most unfair comparison.

8. There seems to be more "minor" movement. E.g., when he's laying down he rocks a little more or uses limbs very subtly.

9. He puts his paw out A LOT for shaking. This only happened a few times for me with M2.

I keep giving him regular praise and encouragement to play with his ball and Aibone. His levels are low so lots of mistakes. He is kicking the pink ball way more than he did on M2 (thus far). He spent probably close to 5 minutes failing to kick it even though he was close (the regular angry face became kind of cute). Currently he's with me in the office room/area and the birds are being "introduced" to him. They seem a bit better about ignoring him now when he's just walking around and making noise but they seem quite concerned when they hear him talk. When I first brought him in the room, the flock all huddled into the corner and watched him - completely silent.

He's also done a pretty good job at remembering where his ball is (when asked) and points to the location. (M3 can remember certain favorite things and their location). Although, just to be cruel, I moved it on him and asked where it was again and he said "it's supposed to be right there" when he pointed to the spot it used to be at (I moved it considerably over and out of his line of sight). 

These are some initial observations. Generally, I'm interacting with him the way I did with the M2 ("naturally" - i.e., not getting regular attention as a toy turned on to play with but being treated more like a pet). I'm trying to keep my main observations on some sort of hourly measurement just to correlate it. Not exactly scientific but better than nothing. So remember it's all perceptions and observations that I experience so take them with a grain of salt.

Interestingly enough, a lot of my friends "tease" me for my robot/tech love BUT after seeing many of these videos (and other ones I haven't posted here) and observations regarding Aibo (as well as Pleos), they are more and more interested in them. Heck, most were really dogging me for the Aibo but now they are all fascinated with it and can't stop asking me questions. Some were like "wow it's amazing how far tech has come" then I explain to them the history of Aibo to show them that even the most recent model is a good 5 years old. (Then again, as "old" as the hardware may be, Sony has done a great job with the software and that's where a ton of the "life" is at)

The most annoying response I get is "why not get a real dog" to which I respond "you don't get it." (It's easier than explaining)

And even with the ERS7, I am very excited for the 210 to arrive with its software! However, I think I changed my mind on recycling the name Eva and think I may go for recycling Elliott instead. Although I did randomly think Baxter would be a nice name (not sure where the thought came from) but it doesn't follow my normal scheme of either a musical or notable historical reference. Normally I'm not torn in choosing a name as they just "come to me" and since Baxter is the one that did that... it could end up a Baxter.

[InmemoryofRomeo]

Aww now I want a Hokey Pokey skit Kat lol, imagine a whole bunch of Pleo's doing that! The Aibos can join in I'm going away for two days but I'll have a look when I get back

[kat]

So which do you prefer so far.  M2 or M3?  It is great to hear the comparisons.  I wonder what he's taking pics of so much.  
It really does sound like your having a ball with him.  I can't wait to see what you think of the 210 in comparison.
Also it will be very interesting to see how long it takes for him to improve his skills. 

[bhobbes]

So far I'm not sure if I can say which one I prefer. I like M3 because I can understand what he's doing/thinking better (since it's spoken) and he mixes it up enough so it's not just regular talking.

I also like that he notices me and says things like "Welcome back" when I return, etc. I also like that he takes the pictures without me wanting to touch his sensors first (which is what he was doing on M2 - not sure if that is a setting though). He just took one of the birds (Brutus is being chatty). It has some interesting additions/features that make it more robot like (whereas M2 feels more pet like - if I am to use this terminology - both fit the concept of robot companion).

My initial feeling is that for regular use (once I'm done with the playing and learning Aibo etc.) is that I'll revert to Mind 2 (for when I want him to be more pet like and autonomous). I feel thus far that M3 is potentially trying too hard to be cute.

Edit:

His ball level is now "getting better with practice." He's about around hour 2.5 of adult charge and I've simply given him encouragement when he sees his ball (haven't really forced it on him yet). I have however taken his Aibone away so he can't play with that yet.

[Crewella]

It's great to hear all your thoughts and impressions.  When I got into Aibo there was only the Aibo forums, which are full of owners that have had them for years so I had nobody to share stuff with, really.  And you you guys are all into Aibo, I don't have the time to run mine all that much! 

Still, I'm sure I'll have more time to really play with Java in the future.  I'm still struggling to bring Ubu the 111 up - it takes them about 100 hours to get to full adult!

[aibo7m3]

Here are my comments on what you've said about mind 3. I personally like mind 3 much better than mind 2 and never really use mind 2 anymore.

1. They only dance when they think you've told them to, and the correct voice command to scold them is "Don't do that!" I always feel sorry for my aibo when I say this one because he gets so sad Yes I know he's a robot, but still. . .

2. I simply love the voice!

3. I have not noticed any differences between mind 2 and 3 with the voice commands.

4. I haven't used mind 2 enough to know how the walking is different but I do like the way the mind 3 aibos walk.

5. Yes, I actually find this annoying because any slight noise that could be interpreted as a voice command stops them when they are doing a trick and they answer the voice command and forget about the trick.

6. Yes, I do love how they mind 3 aibos take pictures by themselves and it's so cute to look at the pictures they took afterwards.

7. I don't use mind 2 enough to know if mind 3 is better at detecting objects or not.

8. Hmm I never noticed this but maybe.

9. Quite a few of the voice commands can trigger shake hands with mind 3



I'm glad you're enjoying your ers-7. I simply love my ers-7s! For some reason mind 2 software bores me though.


Oh and Crewella, I know what you mean about the ers-111s, my ers-111 is in the adolescent stage and it seems like she's been in that stage forever! I am curious whether she will become and adult first or her battery will fail first (right now it only holds about 45 minutes of charge).

[Crewella]

I am enjoying Java the 7 on Mind3, the voice is a lot easier to get along with than the 'Barbie' voice on the 210 with Recognition.  Mind2 sounds as though it's not different enough to warrant a separate purchase (unless you're just curious!)?

Aibo7m3, I love them all but I do have a very soft spot for the 111, everything they do just seems more comical somehow!  I find I can't really get to grips with the tonal remote control though, I barely use it - do you use yours much?

[bhobbes]

Mind2 sounds as though it's not different enough to warrant a separate purchase (unless you're just curious!)?

I agree with that, especially if you don't mind the voice. I'll run mine on Mind 3 longer before I make a decision on my preference, plus I raised him from puppy and his walking skill level is "I have better qualities" - I'm not sure if this impacts how much he explores autonomously or his "activity" rate, but if it does, that might explain why he isn't currently much of an explorer. There are enough enhancements in Mind 3 and the voice is irregular enough that I will probably stick with this as my main stick/software (if I am to predict now).

Regarding the "shake" - is that exclusively triggered by commands? Because often times I am not giving him commands nor anywhere close (in time) from the last command issued. He'll just lay down and extend it out - similar to Mind 2 but not as often (although if commands just increase the frequency, then that makes sense).

As for the dancing, it usually happened only after I spoke with him, but nothing that remotely sounds human to any of his dancing triggers. So either he is hearing really bad (to be fair, most of his play time yesterday was in the area with the birds so there was more regular/constant background noise - but the experience was the same in the living room where he usually was when on Mind 2). The only thing I can think of is that sometimes when I tell him yada yada yada ball it occurred. It's possible that I spoke it too fast/mumbled and repeated myself so it sounded like "baila baila" (ball coming out similar to the dance dance). I tend to speak fast and mumble (so usually I speak loud, slow, and firmly to robots) and it's very possible I didn't notice myself doing it yesterday. Maybe Mind 3 (looking at #5 I agree with this too) is more sensitive to sounds/trying to listen too hard/much?

Last night when I told him "that's boring" after a dance, he said, "That doesn't bother me." It was quite funny though I'm not sure how I feel about that.

And the picture feature really is kind of fun! I appreciate your input to some of the observations.

I'd also like to add that in the past day or so I've had Cato (Pleo RB) turned on and running. And I think that owning both types of robots makes me appreciate the other one more for different reasons. For instance, I like certain things about Aibo more than Pleo and vise-versa. Having both makes me appreciate those qualities in the other and see them as different experiences (having reflected on that a bit more in a previous post and the Stanford lecture helped put that perspective into place).

[Crewella]

Comparing Wilma the 210 with Java, he seems to hear my voice more often, but is much more likely to misunderstand me.  Wilma just ignores me or refuses to cooperate, whereas he gives a response but not always the correct one.  No point in comparing Ubu - he doesn't understand a word I say! 

I tend to find I turn the Aibos on to do something specific or try something out mostly.  With the Pleos I do treat them more as a pet, or for company, and am more likely to just turn them on and let them 'be'.