Lonely? Get Yourself A Pekoppa Toy

[democritus]

The Sega Toys Company Limited has come up with one of the newest hits in Japan with its creation of the weird Pekoppa Toy. Perhaps reminiscent of the campy killer rhododendron of Little Shop of Horrors fame, the Pekoppa Toy is a plant that seems to have a mind all its own.

The Pekoppa Toy can respond to the sound of the human voice. Unlike a real plant that can only lean towards the sun and guzzle water, the Pekoppa Toy can actually keep you company.

Speak to it and its two leaves may flutter or its stem bend in your direction as it seems to acknowledge what you are saying.

If you are a loner, either by choice or design, the Pekoppa Toy provides the perfect damper against the difficulties with being alone. It provides unconditional interaction, which is something most of us need at one time or another in our hectic lives.

Pekoppa’s official tagline is “Heal yourself with this plant, which is a good listener.”

Since its release in September of 2008, Sega Toys have sold more 50,000 units of the Pekoppa Toy.

The plant does nothing at all until someone attempts to communicate with it. The stem begins to bend in a movement akin to a human nod of the head as soon as someone starts talking to it.

It works via an IC chip that is placed in the pot that is able to identify rhythms in human speech. A current travels up the stem, which bends and stretches accordingly.

Its cost is $22 US dollars, but it is currently available only in Japan.

“The Pekoppa Toy serves as a psychological buffer for interaction for people of all ages. If you have no subordinates who would listen to your grumbling in the office or no children who would talk with you, Pekoppa will be by your side, gently nodding,” says Minako Sakanoue, spokeswoman for Sega Toys.

Does Pekoppa Toy really understand what you are saying? Alas, no, but in the end does that really matter? Venting is its own reward and psychologically Pekoppa Toy serves the phenomenon well, albeit a bit oddly.

Later this year a different version, a flower thing called Hanappa, will be unleashed on a weary and strange world that gets weirder every day.

Video of Pekoppa in action

Story at WeirdAsiaNews

Another article at GeishaBlog

[talalan]

Interesting but it would be bad to get addicted to this plant.
Trust Japanese to make the wierdest merchandise ^_^

[Ayamael]

Okay... You know your life is pathetic when you buy it BECAUSE you're lonely... so, I guess I want one!

No seriously, I think I'll stick with pets... they're cute and they actually know how to interact with you.

[edmcel]

What if you're a quiet person who doesn't talk much? The plant wouldn't move much! I agree with Ayamael...real pets are much better companions!

[xultimatez]

What if someone gets addicted to it, and he won't come out of his room because of this plant lol. I guess all innovation has a bad side effect after all

[Mizuki]

It sounds interesting... But I don't believe that a person will feel himself less alone if an electronic pants shakes the leaves at the sound of his voice!