Animatronic Chimp Head

Status: Fake chimp
image I'm posting this in honor of Monkey Day. The Sharper Image is selling a life-size animatronic chimpanzee head. It's the perfect gift for those hard-to-buy-for people on your list, if you don't mind shelling out $150 for it:

"Alive" Chimpanzee can see, hear and feel in ways that allow him to interact intelligently with you, your family, your guests...and with baffled strangers. Soulful eyes track movements using infrared "radar" vision; his ears have stereoscopic sound sensors; his skin reacts to contact with touch sensors all around. Four distinctive emotional moods include "Curious," "Happy," "Fearful" and "Feisty."

My wife thinks she's getting a new TV for her office this Christmas. Imagine her surprise when she opens this instead! (Thanks to Big Gary for the link)

Animals Technology

Posted on Wed Dec 14, 2005


Comments

Alex, Sharper Image has a reputation for selling some pretty cool stuff! If you do end up getting one of these, you'll have to post something on the quality of this item. Based on the features of this critter, $150 seems a little cheap for what they say you'll get. Just remember Billy Bass, and what people paid for what they got... Let us know how this one pans out for you... :coolsmile:
Posted by Christopher in Joplin, Missouri  on  Thu Dec 15, 2005  at  03:47 AM
I want, I want, I want!
😊
Posted by Boo  on  Thu Dec 15, 2005  at  04:26 AM
David Letterman had one on last night. It was pretty realistic looking and the facial features looked accurate, the only way to tell how accurate would be to take one to a zoo and let the chimps there "evaluate" it. 😊
Posted by Craig  on  Thu Dec 15, 2005  at  05:30 AM
I was actually joking about getting it for my wife. It's the kind of thing I'd like, but my wife would probably boot me out of the house if I gave it for her.

As for Billy Bass, I was the proud owner of one of those for years. It sat in my bathroom. I had read that it was possible to hack into them and download songs of your choice into them. I even had instructions on how to do it. So I was planning to replace the tune that came with it (Mack the knife, if I remember) with "let the eagles soar" as sung by our former Attorney General, John Ashcroft. But I never got around to doing it.
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Thu Dec 15, 2005  at  08:04 AM
That's just exceedingly creepy.

Speaking of Sharper Image, did anyone ever see the alien in the chamber they were selling for about $3000 a few years ago? Now THAT would be a kick ass gift.
Posted by Winona  on  Thu Dec 15, 2005  at  09:35 AM
Wow, I can't believe someone even created this.
Posted by Razela  on  Thu Dec 15, 2005  at  10:16 AM
Ooooohwwwwwww, I want one!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by LaMa  on  Thu Dec 15, 2005  at  10:51 AM
Not me, I'm waiting for the porn industry adaption.
Posted by Craig  on  Thu Dec 15, 2005  at  11:44 AM
Yeah, the Liv Tyler model.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Thu Dec 15, 2005  at  11:52 AM
I got one of these and I have to say it's a bit of a disappointment. The motors are very loud, its motions are very crude, and it's not clear that its touch sensors and motion tracking actually work. Still for only 150 bucks, I guess it's pretty awesome.
Posted by Jason  on  Thu Dec 15, 2005  at  12:33 PM
I notice if you buy two chimp heads, the second one is $119 (a 20% discount). If you had two, woud they react to each other? Hmmm.

I'm not sure what it is about Bigmouth Billy Bass that you object to, Christopher. He really does sing and move his lips, and for about five bucks, that seems pretty decent.
Posted by Big Gary in Fairbanks, Alaska  on  Sat Dec 17, 2005  at  08:28 AM
Hey, Alex, could you use the bass technique to transplant John Ashcroft's voice into the chimp head? Now, THAT would be way cool.
Posted by Big Gary in Fairbanks, Alaska  on  Sat Dec 17, 2005  at  09:22 AM
I think this one is going to be a big surprise for her.
Posted by annette  on  Mon Dec 19, 2005  at  03:25 AM
that thing frightens me :gulp:
Posted by pura  on  Tue Dec 20, 2005  at  06:04 PM
I bought my husband one for Christmas. It does indeed track, startles at something suddenly put in it's face, looks at the dog and screams when the dog barks at him. Actually makes eye contact with you when you talk to it. And the remote control makes it kind of eerie. Can't wait for Gorilla football tailgating next year!
Posted by Tammi  on  Sun Dec 25, 2005  at  05:54 PM
I am looking for operating instructions which i have misplaced for the sharper image chimp,can anyone E-Mail the to me? thanks George Williamson
Posted by george williamson  on  Sun May 24, 2009  at  06:05 AM
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