20. The Baby Patting Machine
In 1963, a mechanical crib was designed to “simulate a mother’s touch” by patting the baby’s back using two soft rubber hands. The machine rocked the baby while the hands gently pounded its back every few seconds to help with burping and comfort.
The problem? The patting wasn’t exactly “gentle.” Parents complained of startled babies, crying fits, and one case of a robot hand slapping a pacifier across the room. The inventor called it “maternal automation.” Critics called it “nightmare nursery tech.” Guess which description stuck?
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