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A robot that recognises up to 10 faces
and understands 10,000 words is to be offered to Japanese consumers looking
for a high-tech helper in the house.

The one-metre tall humanoid Wakamaru robot is being marketed as a mechanical
house-sitter and secretary.

Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries expects the first robots
to go on sale in September.

"This is the opening of an era in which human beings and robots can
co-exist," the
company said.

The company says the robot can watch over homes while the owners are away,
alerting them to possible burglaries.

It can also apparently help monitor the condition of a sick person.

And according to Mitsubishi, the robot can act as a secretary, recording
notes and appointments and reminding owners of them with well-timed announcement.

The Wakamaru weighs 30kg (66lb) and is expected to cost 1.58m yen (US$14,300).

Japan, lacking Mexicans to call its own, starts manufacturing
them, even achieving that whistful, hangdog sadness in the facial expression…..

from Reuters