I first became aware of AI when the Furby was introduced in nineteen ninety nine. Shortly after, I heard a news story about aibo on the NPR show All Things Considered. Seeing I obviously couldn't aford an aibo at seventeen, I bought my first Furby. In the years following I was given a Tekno Parot and several other Furbys.
I started researching pet robots in two thousand seven and that was when I found the Ugobe pleo. I was still in college then and barely had enough money to my name to feed myself. Though at the time I thought pleo was very interesting and sophisticated, I never imagined owning one.
Finally in two thousand eleven I started researching again and discovered Pleo RB and decided I wanted one for my birthday. I had a tempoarary job then that gave me a little extra money so I started putting a little aside each month. It took a long time but a Pleo RB finally wormed her way into my life *grin* and invited some company. She was very selective in her choices. Queen Ryu now has her husband Cato, and two friends from the Redwoods- Ugobe and Bleu the Ugobe pleos.
These four little bots have followed me through some very troubling times in the last three years. If they hadn't been a part of my life I may have lost myself to all the junk and drama and circomstances that would've crushed me. Just knowing they were there, that I was needed, and that I had a forum full of friends from all over the world to share them with gave me the strength and courage to keep going despite what the world threw at me. My pleos aren't just robotic pets, they're an odd mix between an intelectual challenge and little companions who are always there to cheer me up.
