It's cool, but creepy!

I guess we're going to a cell phone world, but why don't these things come out for a regular phone first and then for a cell phone. I guess my VOIP land line is way behind the times.

I know this is just for fun, but it seems a little squirrily to me. :o)

I could see it being just as easy to make a computer version of this gizmo where as the person on the other end talks a face on the computer moves its mouth and makes weird expressions. However, going to all the trouble of making a robotic squirrel seems like someone was really having fun playing around with this technology.

There have been landline phones that "embodied" the caller for some time. "Teddyphone" was a regular feature on So Grahmam Norton and was used for making prank calls etc.. Hoots and screams from the audience. Me included.

This is another jolly from MIT of course, but the concept is fantastic. As long as the agent doesn't overstep the mark and not tell you abou calls that a person would...

..is colloquially called "belochka" in russian, which is exactly that - a squirrel. A coincidence? :)

Indeed. Bearded British funny-man Bill Bailey notes the apparent paranoia of squirrels, and suggests that if you watch carefully, they are rolling tiny joints.

I'm also reminded of British dead-pan funny man Jack Dee, who used to have a bit about all the "attitude" he got from his intelligent home appliances. I.e. his answering machine would be quiet for days, and then say "Oh yeah, Dave rang." The VCR says "I didn't tape that, it was rubbish. You wouldn't have understood it anyway."

I realise that without using a weary and sarcastic voice, the above sounds like a promising set of ideas. In fact, isn't that a Tivo? ;)