Parenthood brings significant changes to one’s lifestyle, especially when it comes to driving with a baby. Nissan recognizes the challenges that parents face when trying to keep their little ones entertained and soothed while on the road, which is why they have introduced the innovative Iruyo plushie.
Gone are the days when children roamed freely in the car. With safety regulations requiring children to be secured in rear-facing car seats, it can be difficult for parents to monitor and comfort their infants while driving. Nissan’s research reveals that many parents struggle to console their crying babies when driving alone.
To address this issue, Nissan developed Iruyo, an “Intelligent Puppet” that is strategically placed within view of the baby in the back seat. This interactive plushie works in conjunction with a smaller doll, Baby Iruyo, positioned up front with the parent. The Baby Iruyo acts as a microphone, transmitting the parent’s voice to the Iruyo in the back, allowing it to mimic movements such as waving, dancing, or playing peek-a-boo.
In addition to responding to the parent’s voice, Iruyo incorporates facial recognition technology to detect when the baby is asleep. This information is relayed to the Baby Iruyo, which mirrors the baby’s sleeping state, providing parents with peace of mind.
Nissan’s studies indicate that Iruyo captivates 90% of babies and contributes to improved emotional well-being for over half of the infants tested. The company offers Iruyo in various designs, including white or pink fur, each with different accessories like beanies or glasses.
As an experimental product, Nissan plans to conduct trials in Japan and gather feedback from customers to refine Iruyo further. Perhaps in the near future, parents will have access to their own Iruyo to enhance their driving experience with their little ones. One can only hope that future innovations will address other parenting challenges, like keeping car upholstery clean from food messes.
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