They're unlikely to scare away the burglar or land you a slobbery early-morning kiss on the cheek, but robopets have been rapidly making their way into Japanese homes.
Owners have been known to give their robopets names, dress them up in handmade garments and give them a plastic "bone" to play with. They even form networks with other owners to foster the exchange of information and robo-bonding.
Some experts claim the mechanical mutts and mousers will soon perform more useful functions than flesh-and-blood critters, providing a less demanding form of companionship -- they don't need feeding or exercising, for instance.