Personal Robots: Artificial Friends with Limited Benefits

Several companies are developing appealing robot companions, but they arent yet capable of helping out around the house.

If you visit Softbanks flagship store in downtown Tokyo, you may be greeted by a charming, slightly manic new member of the staff: a gleaming white humanoid robot that gestures dramatically, cracks odd jokes, and occasionally breaks out dancing to music emanating from its own body. If you laugh at these antics, and the robot can see your face, it will quite likely giggle along with you.