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Dreaming of the perfect woman? How should she be? –A hot brunette with long legs, not too dumb and not too smart either? The Lisa Project from AI Robotics will soon become real and I’m sure you won’t be able to help ordering your new girlfriend or secretary.

On April 4 2008, the company raised significant funds to realize the project. On April 12, the L00 prototype evolved with the first integrated RKS features. Next, on April 23, the company announced the start of the first beta tests of the Lisa Project, while on April 28, you all had access to the Perfect Woman TV commercial.



The RKS technology works with a man’s 3 senses, touch, sight and hearing, so the robot to become highly autonomous and to require just little human intervention like training purposes.
To add the sense of touch, the robot’s surface was covered by thousands of micro-sensors each designed with a specific function like temperature measurement, proximity sensors and touch sensors. The data gathered by these sensors is powerful when used as a whole and the robot can use temperature and touch sensors to recognize her owner from a group of individuals.

For the sense of hearing same thing happens, meaning that all is based on the Interpretation of Collected Data. This sense is created based on voice recognition technology using sound sensors placed near the ears that send the arriving signals to the embedded computer for analyses. Sensors designed for the sense of hearing register the tonality and amplitude of the sounds and split the signals into syllables. Lisa is able to differentiate the voice tones and detect questions, excitement and sorrow by associating tonality, amplitude and syllable recognition.



With the sense of sight things are a little bit more complex. The 2 micro cameras directly connected to the on-board computer allow Lisa to register large amounts of data in the same time, and to follow the movements of objects or recognize people.
The process of seeing in the case of a robot is based on dividing the scene into levels like background and foreground, and then segment each level into zones, ending by detaching every object from its background and analyze it in these steps: form recognition, color recognition, gesture recognition, analysis and association with the database.

Also, to maintain her knowledge, Lisa updates wirelessly from the database, needing continuous training.
To make the robot move like a real person, AI Robotics used a dozen of independent engines that multiply the Application Zones, splitting each movement into smaller movements in order to be made more natural, as the company described. These engines interact with the others via a transmission device and can move on the X, Y, Z axes.
More than these, Lisa will be available online at www.perfect-woman.com, where you can place pre-orders now and choose the hair color, dress style, and haircut. Good luck in making the right choice!

One of the first persons that had the chance to test Lisa says:



This is the interview with the founders, Etienne Fresse and Yoichi Yamato, published on the Perfect Woman website:

How did the project “Perfect Woman” get started?
YY: Etienne and I became friends at once. It was our common passion for robotics that brought us together, and we very soon decided to create our own robot. We wanted to use cutting-edge technology while always keeping in mind that most of all this robot was meant to serve real people.
EF: For me, everything started with a book called Love + Sex with Robots: the Evolution of Human-Robot Relationships by David Levy. I had always thought that one day technology would allow us to create a robot that would be able to perfectly imitate human behaviour. With Lisa we succeeded.

Which cutting-edge technology did you use to create Lisa?
YY: We created a technology called RKS, “Recognition Krax System”, which allows for vocal, tactile and visual recognition. Lisa is able to recognize objects and persons and she can even differentiate between roses and tulips for example.
EF: Lisa can also have a real conversation with you, thanks to a database that is updated daily. She integrates new parameters into her replies and is thus able to react to new evolutions and trends. We have also studied her movements very closely to make them as natural and smooth as possible. We achieved this by multiplying the application zones (AZ) which allow for breaking down a movement into several steps to ensure a better reaction.

Could you give us some examples of what Lisa is able to do?
YY: Lisa can cook you a meal based on what is in the fridge (visual recognition). She can go shopping, do household work or give you a hydraulic massage, but she can also play chess and video games (over 390 are available) and even learn to do certain sports.
EF: We have designed Lisa to be a true companion. She is there to serve you. She dresses herself and recharges herself automatically. You can talk to her about news, travelling, culture and music. Lisa has an IQ of 130. She is even able to satisfy your desires in the bedroom. For this we have cooperated with a renowned sexologist whose expertise has been integrated into Lisa’s configuration.

For whom did you design the perfect woman?
EF: Lisa is a substitute for a real woman. She has been designed for all men who have not found their soulmate, who would like to have company when they get home in the evening and who would like to have someone who cares for them.

Why did you decide to sell Lisa on the internet?
YY: Most of all we wanted to “democratize” robots. We wanted to give as many people as possible the opportunity to benefit from cutting-edge technologies, to make their daily lives a little better.

When will the online shop be launched?
EF: The online shop will open on June 11 2008. You can customize the dress style and the eye and hair colour of your own Perfect Woman. You can already order her now to be sure to have her delivered as fast as possible.

(We too believe it's a joke :D)

Coming from Boysstuff Ltd, the same guys that provide some of the funniest alarm clocks we’ve featured in one of our previous articles, the USB Motorbike Engine Hub is a cool and crazy gadget that starts to emit the specific sound and to vibrate, when connected to the computer.

It is also a useful tech gadget featuring 3 ports for electrical stuff like digital cameras, MP3 players, memory sticks and so on. When plugged in it starts to show its power, going up and down and allowing you to rev the engine and gears.
It is a great tool for multi-use, eliminating the need for switching cables.

See it in action:

Are you searching for a way to look like Jordie LaForge in Star Trek or Cyclops from the X-men team, but you don’t really want to appear as a weirdo? Well, now you can do all that with a QVGA display embedded in a pair of cool glasses from Sony.

<-120x240 Vertical Banner - right->That’s right, Sony has recently showcased a pair of eyeglasses that can display full-color video images in front of your eyes. The prototype demoed for the press supports a QVGA resolution, weighs 120g, has 3mm thick lenses, and a contrast ratio of 50:1. You might say that te contrast ratio is too low, but remember that you still have to see through the lenses in order to know where you are heading.Sony claims that their new pair of glasses uses a proprietary holographic waveguide and an optical engine made up of a LED light source and a transparent LCD panel. Video coming from the optical engine is reflected by a film in the holographic waveguide. It then bounces off a glass plate and is diffracted to the eyes by a second holographic film layer.

Even though the technology isn’t new and there are other similar solutions that should appear in the near future, Sony wants to further promote their glasses and even intends to slim the prototype down to 80g and make the lenses transmissive enough to be used in dark places. The Japanese company thinks these glasses will be commercialized by 2010.

One of the resources of impartial reviews you use to read before buying something is definitely Reevoo. It made a statistic recently taking into account scores from products that have received over 30 reviews each, and managed to create a selection representing the best kitchen gadgets and brands, to allow you create the perfect kitchen.

These are:



Best Washing Machine: Miele W 3922 WPS SOFTRONIC, which has an A rating for energy efficiency.
Features: 1600 RPM Spin Speed, 6 Kg Wash Load, 85.0 x 59.5 x 58.0 cm, A rating for wash performance, B rating for spin performance, types of washes: hand, quick, wool; 4 l water consumption, 1.02 Kwh energy consumption.



Best Fridge/Freezer: Beko AB910s, for perfect capacity, quietness and functionality.
Features: 13.0 kg/day freeze capacity, 46.0 dB noise level, 383.0 l fridge volume, 175.0 l freezer volume, Digital display, Silver protection, Self closing doors, dynamic cooling system, Fast Freeze, Frost-Free, A energy efficiency class; dimensions and weight: 92.5 x 177.5 x 69 cm at 115 Kg.



Best Oven: Cannon C60DHK, for the price versus performance.
Features: dual power, freestanding design, 2 ovens, gas hob type, 4 rings, B energy rating, programmable. Measures: 60 x 90 x 60 cm.


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Best Microwave: Panasonic NNCT766M BPQ, a multi-functional model.
Features: measures 30.4 x 51.0 x 47.7 cm, touch controls, 1000 watts power, 6 power levels, Timer, stainless steel interior, used for baking, roasting, browning or reheating, 40, 100-250 oven temperature range, Panacrunch pizza accessory, Reheat programs, 17 auto weight cook programmes, 3 auto weight defrost programmes, Safety child lock feature.



Best Dishwasher: Miele G1222SC, a durable and high-quality model.
Features: 12 holders, high-temperature wash, 46 dB noise level, class A for Washing Efficiency, Energy and Drying Power, 6 presets, 13.0 l water consumption, measures 84.7 x 59.8 x 60 cm.



Best Kettles and Food Processors: Breville JK121 and Kenwood FP 920.
Breville JK121 features: brushed Stainless Steel Brita filter jug kettle, changing illumination feature, standby blue, boil mode red, boils and filters at the same time, memo feature to indication when a cartridge needs replacing, 3kW fastboil element, 360 degree rotational base, and cord storage.



Kenwood FP 920 features: 1000 watt, 3.0 l bowl capacity, 1.5 l liquidizer, variable speed plus pulse, full set of slicing, grating and shredding disks; integral cord storage, full safety interlock, easy to clean design.

What’s more relaxing than a bubbly bath in a pool-like Jacuzzi? While most of us can’t even afford an average Jacuzzi, Water Games Technologies now comes with their latest wonder – the Red Diamond bathtub, worth $47,000.

It costs a small fortune, but does it know how to cook? Of course it doesn’t, but it’s got some other expensive features. Let’s see what we have here… multicolor lighting? Presumably, this is intended for some lighting therapy. What else, a computer-controlled heating system that maintains your desired water temperature. Now this is a cool feature, because you’re not limited to a one hour bath anymore. Want more? How about an automatic disinfection system and built-in massager? Can it get more relaxing than this?

Sure it can. You might think that all those features mentioned above can still be found in some other Jacuzzi, but wait until you see the two retractable HDTVs that come with the Red Diamond bathtub. As if all these weren’t enough, you also get a Swarovski-encrusted champagne holder, plus a built-in GSM module that lets you program your tub via your trusty handset from afar.

Water Games Technologies did not care to mention any launch date, but if you can really afford one of these tubs, I’m sure you’ll do anything in your power to get it.