PARO Robots Announces Launch of Sales and Delivery in the U.S.

CHICAGO, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- PARO Robots U.S. Inc. and the Japan External
Trade Organization (JETRO) have announced that order fulfillment and delivery
of the therapeutic robot PARO will begin in the United States on December 1,
2009, from its sales and distribution office in Itasca, Illinois. The company
will take orders from individuals and institutions by phone, fax, and email
beginning November 16, 2009.

This follows receipt of Class II exempt pre-marketing notification from the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 21, 2009. During the course of
pre-marketing with the FDA, the sales office loaned twenty of the PARO robots,
designed as a baby harp seal, to hospitals and healthcare organizations with
elderly residents, people with disabilities, and dementia patients, as well as
schools for autistic children. Examples of positive comments from users
include:
-- "PARO has provided sensory, cognitive and social stimulation. PARO
generates conversation and is used in place of pet visitation." Easter
Seals, Silver Spring, MD

-- "Our Alzheimer's residents were especially excited about their new
friend. The greatest result we have seen with PARO in this unit is the
joy it has brought." Beaufont Towers, Richmond VA

PARO is scheduled to be on display at the 2009 American Association of Homes
and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) Annual meeting from November 9-11 in
Chicago. During the exposition, PARO will reside in the "AAHSA House" as one
of the products that improve the quality of life for the aging. PARO will also
be exhibited at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January
7-10, 2010.

The PARO robot is covered in pure white synthetic fur with built-in
intelligence providing psychological, physiological, and social effects
through physical interaction with humans. Inside are two 32-bit CPUs, which
can process voice recognition and imitate animal behavior, enabling PARO to
develop its own character. PARO has five different types of sensors over the
body that allows it to perceive people and the environment, and respond to
touch, light, sound, temperature, and posture.

Photos, videos, reviews, and additional background information are available
at www.parorobots.com.

PARO has been in use in Japan and throughout Europe since 2003, and was
introduced to the U.S. in November 2008 with the assistance of JETRO Chicago.
The inventor of PARO is Takanori Shibata, PhD, Senior Research Scientist of
Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
(AIST), who has been at the forefront of service robotics for over 15 years.

More than 1,300 PAROs have been sold in Japan since 2005. 70% have been sold
to individual users as substitutes for animal pets, and 20% have been sold to
nursing homes, schools, and elderly institutions. In Denmark, more than 100
PAROs have been sold, primarily to the health care system, with another 900
scheduled for delivery by 2011. In the U.S., PARO has been in trial use at
several hospitals and institutions across the country. Recently, the
Vincentian Collaborative System, a Catholic healthcare and human services
organization in Pittsburgh, has been utilizing PARO on a trial basis in four
of its nursing homes, with plans to purchase seven at year's end, aided by a
philanthropic grant.

The price of PARO is $6,000, including a one-year service warranty from the
company's Itasca, Illinois warehouse. The sales office has a short term rental
program for trial available for limited quantities.

About PARO Robots U.S., Inc.: Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, PARO Robots
U.S., Inc. was founded by Sugino Machine Ltd., Japan and Intelligent Systems
Co. Ltd., Japan; and serves as U.S. sales and distribution center for PARO
products. For more information, please visit www.parorobots.com. Contact:
Christine Hsu, General Manager, at 866-980-PARO, 630-467-1044, or
info@parorobots.us.

About JETRO: JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) is a government-related
organization promoting mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest
of the world. Originally established in 1958 to promote Japanese exports
abroad, JETRO's core focus in the 21st century has shifted toward promoting
foreign direct investment into Japan and helping small to medium size Japanese
firms maximize their global export potential. For more information, please
visit www.jetro.org. Contact: Kevin Kalb at 312-832-6023, or
kevin_kalb@jetro.go.jp.

SOURCE JETRO Chicago

Christine Hsu, PARO Robots U.S., Inc., +1-630-467-1044, info@parorobots.us;
Kevin Kalb, JETRO, +1-312-832-6023, kevin_kalb@jetro.go.jp