Japanese Researchers Create Plant That Shows Emotions

Working in an office can be dull, even if it’s your home office, but researchers at Keio University in Japan have come up with a companion: a plant that shows emotion.

This cool project comes to us from Engadget via DigInfo TV. Here’s a video explaining how it works:

Furi Sawaki, one of the researchers, says the project is intended to make plants seem even more alive. Sensors in a box containing the plant react to what you’re doing, and a motor tugs on strings attached to the plant to show various emotions, such as anger.

The researchers also hope to have the plants be able to move around. You would love to have an angry plant chasing me, wouldn’t you?

If you like this, you might also want to check out the Electree, a Bonsai-shaped solar charger. If you’re feeling more sinister, you might like our post on a robotic Venus Flytrap that actually eats real bugs for fuel.