Talking dolls are nothing new, of course. But the new robo-dolls are much more realistic in their speech, movement and interactive abilities than the Chatty Cathys of yore. They mimic a living, thinking, feeling, nurture-needing being. But they're not. The doll manipulates the child, writes Davis.
Adults see near-human dollbots as, well, creepy.
The Alliance warns kids may get confused about what's real and what's mechanical or electronic. They may think My Real Baby is really a baby. I suspect kiddies are harder to fool than that. But I do worry that interaction with a smart doll will substitute for interaction with a live playmate or parent. Already, TV is the electronic babysitter in many homes.