Thanks to Lance Ulanoff for this writeup!

Paro, the therapeutic robot seal pup developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, is set to star in a Scandinavian film entitled "Mechanical Love." Giggle-worthy title aside, the film is actually a documentary that will highlight the robot's production and extraordinary soothing capabilities around the aged and infirm. More details on the film will be made public next week  during the International Conference on Aging.

I first met Paro three years ago in a small side aisle at the now-defunct Comdex show. The rechargeable-battery-operated, fur-covered robot, which I initially mistook for a simple stuffed animal, was so remarkable that it was a finalist in PC Magazine's Best of Show awards. Since then, developers have increased the robot's interactivity and fine-tuned its reliability. Version 8 costs roughly $3,500 and while most Paros have been sold to hospitals and nursing homes, some individuals have purchased them as pets.

Will Paro's big black eyes and cuddly demeanor win over Ebert and Roper? Only time will tell...

[Via Yahoo! Asia News]

Adesso recently released a new, improved version of its flexible keyboard, the Fold 2000. The updated model is a flat, thin silicone keyboard that is flexible enough to roll up to the size of a Chipotle burrito (and I'm writing this post with it right now). It's Windows compatible and connects through USB and PS/2 ports. Oh, and it's also waterproof and washable for all you beachgoers and clumsy coffee spillers.

When I first took the keyboard out of the box, my first impression was, "It's smelly." The silicone had a new car smell, but not in a good way. Soon my hands reeked, too. Typing was fairly comfortable, after i got used to it, but i had to push down very hard on the keys to type. Even then, some of my letters didn't show up onscreen, and oddly, every time I pushed the "o" button, an "l" showed up after it.

I loved rolling and unrolling the keyboard, and it just might impress all of your friends (or coworkers). This product could be cool and convenient to carry around in my laptop bag, especially because it's so quiet when I type. But it's uncomfortable and quirky enough that i wouldnt' want to use it as my standard keyboard.

Check out the black, white, and mini versions. They're $29.99 each on the Adesso site.

My day just got a whole lot brighter with Motorola's and T-Mobile's announcement that the Motorola PEBL is now available in new vivid colors: orange, blue, and green.

In celebration of the new colors, Motorola is "temporarily changing the face of well-known locations with giant strips of vivid color in the world's most progressive and exciting cities. Starting with New York City's Bryant Park from May 23 – May 26 and Chicago's John Hancock Building Plaza from May 25 – May 29, patrons will see these locations undergo colorful makeovers as part of the large-scale outdoor art installation project." So make sure you check it out!!

The Motorola PEBL Color Phones are $99 and available at T-Mobile retail stores and and online at t-mobile.com and motorola.com.

For more information, read the official press release, or read PCMag.com's PEBL review.

It's down to Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee on American Idol. Their last performances are tonight, and I'm betting that tomorrow's finale will unveil Taylor as the winner.

Of course, that's not the way I wanted it to happen. I was gunning for rocker Chris Daughtry. Even though I'm still bitter that he was voted off, I'm glad he was able to get as far as he did.

Although this season of Idol will come to a close this week, you can still enjoy singing along to your favorite songs, while in the shower no less, with the American Idol AM/FM Shower Radio. This water resistant radio features manual tuning and on/off/volume control with a suction cup holder for hanging in the shower. It measures 8 1/2" H x 2 9/10" W x 3 4/5" D and requires 2 AAA batteries (which aren't included).

Simply power on the microphone, tune in to a radio station of your choice, and start singing like William Hung.

Purchase the American Idol AM/FM Shower Radio for $9.99.

And what American Idol fan would be complete without the American Idol Season 5 Encores CD ($9.98), or the Screen Life American Idol DVD game ($34.99) with show questions and performance challenges?

[via GadgeTell]

Most of us cubicle-confined employees have realized by now that there's no such thing as privacy. Often, we're forced to speak in soft tones, and the person on the other end wonders why we're whispering. Then there's those who speak at a ridiculously high level, and every day you get a glimpse into the person next to you's dramatic life: changing diapers, fighting with the wifey, the in-laws are coming for a visit, the basement is flooded, or what to make for dinner.

There's really no way to silence your cubicle companions (unless, of course, you mischieviously move things from their desk, making them so irritated that they wind up moving). For now, the only option is to mask those sounds, by giving them Babble: a device that provides voice privacy without the need for walls.  

Developed by Sonare Technologies, Babble is a desktop device that "connects to the telephone and sends the user's voice out in multiplied and 'babbled' form through proprietary speakers arranged in the work area. It achieves confidentiality without distracting the user of the device, and those in the user's immediate area hear what sounds like an indiscernible, low-volume group conversation."

The system comes with 2 speakers, and each can provide up to 180 degrees of coverage. All you do is plug the device into your phone, press the button, and you're on your way to private calls.

Watch how Babble works in this video.

Get the Babble for $395.