Loneliness runs rampant among seniors suffering from dementia or pre-dementia. Tom Stevens, a 35-year tech-industry vet, saw it himself as the syndrome took hold of his mother. “I started wondering if there was a tech-based solution that could do some good,” Stevens says. The result is the Tombot Jennie ($450), a hyperrealistic emotional-support robot that looks, feels and behaves much like a real puppy—minus the floor-wetting. Designed by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, the uncanny Jennie resembles a 15-lb. Lab puppy and includes dozens of internal sensors, allowing her to wag her tail when petted, respond to voice commands, and perk up and bark when asked if she wants a treat. Tombot plans to incorporate medical-alert capabilities into Jennie before shipping the robo-dog to the company’s 5,000-person preorder list in 2022. —J.R. Sullivan
- LeBron James Could Take Pickleball—Yes, Pickleball—to the Next Level
- It's Going to Be a Lot More Expensive to Heat Your Home This Winter. Here's What To Expect
- The U.S. Might Be the Surprising Determining Factor in the Future of Armenia
- Rapper Saucy Santana Is Opening a Door For His Community
- Here are the Biggest Moments from the TIME100 Leadership Forum and Impact Awards in Singapore
- Column: Russia Wants to Lock Ukraine Back in the Soviet Cellar
- As the Kanjuruhan Tragedy Shows, Indonesia Has Not Resolved Its Long-Standing Problem of Soccer Violence
- Here's Everything New on Netflix in October 2022
- A New Documentary Series Illuminates the History and Evolution of Queer Horror
