'Healing robots' help ease COVID-19 isolation

Coming up seven months for me, never needed a healing robot.

Unless they are sanitized extensively they become another transmission vector

Just call your mom

"a hefty price tag of 329,780 yen plus regular maintenance fees"

Another play thing for the rich. Mean while us po folk take comfort in our loved ones.

I've never understood why anyone would think a robot is anything more than a distraction or a tool. Whatever makes you happy and doesn't harm someone else, I suppose.

I'd much rather have a few hours with a dog. Just drop off a nice dog or friendly cat for a few hours 1-2 times a week for people to get that desired contact with another living being. There are studies which show dogs immediately lower blood pressure 10% and petting one releases feel-good chemicals into our bodies. https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/health-benefits/index.html

I hate to say this, but sometimes I prefer a dog over people, including my better half.

Like having a "Healing Chucky".  I can't think of anything less likely to make me feel better.

I guess if dogs had a union, they would march in the streets and go on strike.

Saying this has anything to do with covid... Now that's a stretch

While they didn't say how much the robot dog price was, 330,000yen isn't much more expensive than the price of dogs at our nearby Super Viva Home Center (except for the older, discounted ones almost full grown, most are over 200,000 yen). And the living dogs will quickly add more costs in food, fees, innoculations, blankets, etc. And no need to walk the robot on a cold rainy day or pick up warm, steamy droppings. So the robot dog sounds like a good deal after all!

COVID-19 isolation

I have a better idea to deal with this problem.

End the misguided lockdowns.

330,000yen isn't much more expensive than the price of dogs at our nearby Super Viva Home Center (except for the older, discounted ones almost full grown, most are over 200,000 yen).

We have two purebred dogs, both rescues. The Shiba cost no more than the return train fare to Tokyo to pick him up (we were temporarily without a car) and the Dobie came to us for the cost of his first round of inoculations, which we would have otherwise had to pay anyway. There’s no need to support the puppy mills by buying from a pet shop. Go rescue. There are lots of dogs and cats out there desperate for a forever home.

And the living dogs will quickly add more costs in food, fees, innoculations, blankets, etc.

What you get back from a dog Is many, many times what you put in.

And no need to walk the robot on a cold rainy day or pick up warm, steamy droppings.

Both of ours refuse point-blank to go for a walk when it’s raining. When their bladders really, really cannot hold out any longer they will dash into the garden, do what’s necessary, then dash back in again. Walking in the rain simply Does Not Happen.

I’ll give you the warm steamy droppings, but it’s really no worse than changing a child’s nappy - easier, actually. Not a major problem.

So the robot dog sounds like a good deal after all!

Nah.