Chapit Can Automate Your Life

Aww, isn't he precious? That's Chapit, designed by Japanese robotics company Raytron. Chapit was recently on exhibition at the Napia Nakanoshima housing project. The project demonstrates how future homes in Japan will all be digitally connected with Chapit functioning as the conduit between house and human. Think of Chapit as a precursor to HAL before he went bad.

Some of the things Chapit can do are waking you, answering and redirecting phone calls, control lighting and thermostats, sync with your computer and act as a media server, control home appliances and electronics. You interact with Chapit by speaking to him in a natural tone. He currently only understands about 100 words but he's designed to learn. Raytron believes Chapit is capable of learning 10,000 words given the time.

In addition to verbal communication, Chapit uses flashing lights and body movements to convey emotion. If you're unhappy, he's unhappy and which point he'll try to cheer you up. Maybe put on some music and dim the lights, turn on the T.V. to your favorite evening program. If that sleek white body is too . . . well, sleek for you. Don't worry, Chapit has clothing options for you to outfit him in.

I personally think he looks like a page torn right out of Sega's Super Monkey Ball, but who am I to judge a robot that can literally control my life. He does however have a bizarre baby-like speaking voice.

Raytron hopes Chapit will be in stores by 2008 for 200,000 YEN ($1944). I'm even tempted to bequeath him the QRIO we can actually afford. Home automation or path to human enslavement? You decide.

Check out video of Chapit in action after the jump.