Robot dog keeps over-eaters on tight leash

Paris - A scientist in the United States has reportedly designed a robot dog that monitors your daily food intake and pleads with you to curb over-indulgence.

According the British weekly New Scientist's next Saturday issue, the canine coach -- a souped-up version of Sony's Aibo -- is programmed to exhibit four different behaviours, representing lethargy, energy and two stages in-between.

If you have stuck to your daily calories, the dog will jump up and down, wag its tail, play cheerful music and flash brightly coloured lights that stud his 50-centimetre (20-inch) -high body.

But if you have splurged on the cheesecake, it will move ponderously and play sorrowful, low-energy music.

The pooch gets its information from a pedometer, bathroom scales and personal digital assistant on which the owner is supposed to (truthfully) record his or her food intake.

The data from these electronic devices is sent to the dog by Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

The system, still in its early stages, has been designed by Cynthia Breazeal at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, New Scientist reports.

The apparently frivolous invention has a serious idea behind it.

Past studies have shown that people who record what they eat and how much they exercise, and who receive close encouragement in their endeavour, are likelier to succeed in their diet.

A robot could thus offer support that humans do not have the time, patience or interest to provide. -- Reuters

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