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Hello? Squirrel speaking.

Doctor Q

Doctor Q

Administrator
Original poster
Staff member
Sep 19, 2002
40,483
9,436
Los Angeles
BBC news link
Whether we are having a private conversation, snowed under with work, or just not in the mood to speak to anyone, the phone keeps ringing.

MIT research student Stefan Marti may have the answer: ditch your mobile phone, and get a squirrel.

Specifically, an animatronic desktop squirrel which deals with your calls for you. The squirrel answers phone calls, works out if you are busy or asleep, evaluates how important the incoming call is and takes messages.

When it wants to alert its owner to a call, it waves and moves about rather than making a sound. And, it is ridiculously cute.
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The article is good, with some comments about when it is sensible to develop socially-aware technology (devices that are aware of human behavior and accommodate it intelligently) and when it isn't.

In the meantime, if you phone me and a squirrel answers, now you'll know why.

Side note: One paragraph in the article seems to have had a little problem with an include file on the web server, so the message "an error occurred while processing this directive" came out instead! Whoops!
 
I want one... :eek: :p

I wonder if it plays nice with the aibo?
 

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Squirrel seems to be just the thing that every busy executive needs on his/her desk.
 
Doctor Q said:
Donald Trump already has one on his head.
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Thank you Doctor Q that brought a big smile on my face. Waiting to hear when the good Doctor Q has one on his desk.
 
"Click. Hello. This is Doctor Q's answering squirrel. Doctor Q is busy working on today's Sudoku puzzle and can't be disturbed. Personally, I think he's already a little disturbed, if you know what I mean. In other words, he's nuts! Ummm, nuts. I could go for some cashews right now."

I think I won't buy one of these just yet.
 
LOL. Brought to mind a customer of mine this weekend. Showed his friend the new Casio EX-S500 digital camera. His comment was, "I'm a squirrel. Oh, such a bright shiny thing".

Hard to keep on track in the sales process with a comment like that. :D
 
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