THEY'RE TURNING US INTO AUTOMATONS! AIEEEEE!!!

[Bhaisahab]

Virtual girlfriend could end dating woes



She needs to be coddled with sweet talk and pampered with gifts, but you'll never see her in the flesh, says a Hong Kong company that's developing a "virtual girlfriend" for new cell phones with video capability.

Artificial Life, Inc.'s electronic love interest will appear as an animated figure on a telephone screen. But she'll require a lot of attention, involving virtual flowers and diamonds, company spokeswoman Ada Fong said on Monday.

The gifts will keep the relationship going from one level to the next -- and even though it's all made up of cold, hard data, suitors will have to pay cold, hard cash for the gifts.

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The game doesn't allow interactions of a sexual nature, Fong said, calling it "suitable for all ages."

The company hopes to develop a virtual boyfriend for women by early next year.

full story: http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/08/23/mobile.girlfriend.ap/index.html

Soon we'll have virtual parents and children and granmothers and grandfathers. So that we are never away from family while we slug it out in 2x2 cubicles. Bastards.