In the ’80s, technology’s big advance was the development of the affordable home computer, says Saffo. In the ‘90s, it was the Web, which networked all those computers. Today, with all the input mechanisms we’re already plugging into our computers—microphones, speakers, Webcams and so on—it’s just a matter of time until somebody puts some legs or wheels on the whole shebang and figures out a compelling product. The robotic equivalent of the iPod, say. “All the pieces are there, they’re just waiting to be connected by the right entrepreneur—some Steve Jobs able to figure out just what people want,” said Saffo.

This isn’t the consumer tech industry’s first shot at the robo-pet. Sony tried these waters years ago, with a $2,500 robot doggy launched in 1999 called the Aibo; the company eventually pulled the plug on it.

To build an online community for the device, Ugobe has put together a Web site for the Pleo, where owners can compare notes or start blogs (“plogs” here) devoted to their robot pals. One Pleo parent notes that she caught her pet playing with its shadow. Stories of Pleos interacting with Roombas—those robotic vacuum cleaners—abound.

Ugobe is courting fans and encouraging their creativity in ways that Sony did not. It’s planning to release a software kit that will allow owners to easily create new Pleo behaviours. To get things rolling, the company has created a couple of software programs: one has the Pleo barking out holiday songs, another puts the robot in “watchdog” mode, where it barks and growls in response to any noise or motion.

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