It's a new year, and with it comes a renewed lust for companionship. Combined with the recession's effects on dating and the narrowing channels of discovering love outside the Internet, many are hunching over their laptops flirting in hopes of finding a mate.
But that's so 2009.
Enter True Companion's Roxxxy the Sexbot, a 120-pound, 5-foot, 7-inch mechanical with an anatomically-accurate mechanical skeleton hidden underneath real-feeling "flesh," according to its maker. No matter how real she may feels, I can't shake the thought that she's a cross between Joan Jett and Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, with a dash of Chrissy Hynde of the Pretenders thrown in for good measure -- and that's weird.
Roxxxy debuted at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas (where else?), and at the show, had a laptop plugged into her back. But she's also Wi-Fi capable, and her little quirks, like the way she holds your hand, can be shared with other sexbot owners through the True Companion Web site. Wi-Fi also makes Roxxxy easily upgrade-able, in case a new OS debuts, or -- shudder to think -- she catches a computer virus.
Roxxxy has attitude, with several personality types you can elicit at the touch of a button. Frigid Farrah is reserved and a bit chilly; Wild Wendy lives up to her name; S&M Susan, well, you know; and Mature Martha has that experienced thing goin' on. Owners can also change Roxxxy's hair color, cup size, race, and other characteristics until they get that perfect creature. However, you cannot take away the cold, dead stare.
But in case you think Roxxxy is all about sex her creators said that the sex aspect is mere marketing, and that Roxxxy is all about companionship. She's built with technology that allows her to carry out simple conversations. Douglas Hines, the robot's inventor, told The Telegraph that Roxxxy is much more than her blow-up predecessors. "She's a companion. She has a personality. She hears you. She listens to you. She speaks. She feels your touch. She goes to sleep. We are trying to replicate a personality of a person," Hines said. You know who else is really good at replicating people's personalities? You guessed it! Real people!
Prices will hover around US$7000 to $9000, depending on the level of customization.
True Companion also has plans to create a male counterpart named Rocky. I wonder what his personality types will be, and if he can enjoy a cold Schlitz while watching the game.