It takes a lot of moxie to rear children intelligently and lovingly
Since it’s an old word, let’s note that the online dictionary defines “moxie” as “force of character, determination, or nerve.” Parents have a covenant with their children to care for them properly. On the other hand, some parents are too busy, too bored, or too inept to care for their kids.
But there’s hope. A new product named “Moxie” is now on the market for parents who don’t have real moxie. Price tag: $799. Wikipedia says, “A social robot is an autonomous robot that interacts and communicates with humans or other autonomous physical agents by following social behaviors and rules attached to its role.”
Apparently, a lot of parents without moxie want Moxie because the product’s website is slow to load.is slow to load. Once there, they will learn that:
“Moxie is powered by SocialX®, Embodied’s breakthrough software platform that supports advanced conversation through:Conversational AIBody LanguageEye ContactEmotionBehavior AnalyticsPremium Curated Content”They will also learn that Moxie is “huggably soft,” you know like a parent would be if s/he were there. Moxie reaches life skills to kids from five to ten years of age, preparing their delicate psyches for the wonder years ahead. Moxie is purportedly their “bestie robot friend.”
USA Today approves: “Moxie is a robot companion on a mission to learn how to become a good friend to humans. Sent from the Global Robotics Laboratory, or G.R.L. for short, what Moxie needs is a real-life robot mentor, and the G.R.L. has chosen that mentor to be a child. Designed to engage with all kids needing to learn social, emotional, and life skills in the face of autism, anxiety, depression, and more, Moxie and its mentor go on a series of missions that help them both to learn and grow.” I take issue with the notion that a robot will help with autism and anxiety.
In fact, most of the product reviews are favorable. This surprises me because the entire concept is flawed–not in the construction of the robot but in the notion we want a robot rearing our children because the parents can’t be bothered with it.
Maybe those who buy Moxie are really looking for Mary Poppins.
–Malcolm
