Trends in Japan - CScout Japan Blog » Virtual wife reminds you to eat healthy

Virtual wife reminds you to eat healthy

Written by: Rebecca Milner on October 21, 2008 at 9:31 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE |

We’ve seen a lot of products and services targeting “metabo” fighters—those typically middle-aged salarymen trying to rid themselves of the few extra inches around the mid-section associated with the dreaded metabolic syndrome. Of those, the “Virtual Wife” service from Metaboinfo.com has to be one of the best.

Subscribers to the free service can choose from one of four virtual wives, who include a cute maid café waitress, a cool domineering analyst, a motherly nurse, and a fashionable nail artist, and even pick her name. Users then input their height, weight, and lifestyle habits.

In return, they receive 4 emails daily from their virtual wife that include nagging reminders not to engage in unhealthy habits and suggestions for reaching their ideal body weight—all in a tone of voice appropriate to the chosen character.

The service also includes a “meal management tool” with a space to input a menu and find out how many calories are likely involved. We’ve featured coverage before of how mobile phones are being used as health aids, and while this example is less serious, it does fit the trend and furthermore, shows how these services are increasingly not only accessible from mobiles but instructive and communicative as well.

Tags: Dieting, health, Metabo, Mobile, Wellness
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution No Derivatives license

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[...] Via Trends in Japan. [...]

Pingback by Virtual wife that will keep you in shape — October 24, 2008 #
They have everything for everyone in Japan! Yikes, this feels like a creepy extrapolation of a blow up doll.

Comment by astrorainfall — October 24, 2008 #
[...] Japan’s Metaboinfo.com has unveiled a “VIRTUAL WIFE” service. Pick from one of four “wives,” and the software-robot cartoon spouse avatar harasses you four times a day via e-mail, nagging you about what to eat. Fortunately, that is available only in Japan. (props to CScout) [...]

Pingback by Latest Job Taken By Robots: Nagging Wife | Technology News — October 25, 2008 #
[...] &#83o&#117rce [...]

Pingback by Virtual Wife to Remains Your Health | Gadget Folder Free Gadget Review — October 25, 2008 #
Get a virtual wife to nag you about your diet: Laundry and cooking not included…

It seems that virtual wives have become topical somehow, what with the
online avatar killing of a husband that we learnt about yesterday. Now you can opt for a wife of your choice who will nag you about your cholesterol levels, taking enough exercis…

Trackback by Shiny Shiny — October 28, 2008 #
there’s a virtual Japanese boyfriend too.. what’s up with Japanese people?
http://japansugoi.com/wordpress/virtual-japanese-boyfriend-from-webcare/

Comment by carlos — December 9, 2008 #