Not Only Crime Prevention but Also 'Proxy Refusal' Available
Popular Not Only Among Women but Also the Elderly
In Japan, as special frauds such as voice phishing and violent crimes involving home intrusions have recently occurred nationwide, an 'automatic responder' that replies with a male voice reciting preset phrases has been released and is gaining popularity. Especially among women and the elderly, orders have poured in, leading to the initial stock being sold out.
On the 16th, Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported on the electronic device 'Oedapgun' launched last November by the Osaka-based idea electronics company 'Ryson.' About the size of a smartphone, it has 16 buttons, and when pressed, different phrases are played in the voice of a man in his 30s. Starting with greetings like "Yes" and "Thank you," it also includes phrases for delivery workers such as "Please leave it at the front door" and "Please put it in the delivery box." The device is simple to use?just hold it close to the intercom or door so the voice can be heard and press a button. Additionally, phrases like "If you come again, I'll call the police" are included to respond to stalkers and others.
Although initially intended for crime prevention, Oedapgun also targets people who find it hard to refuse requests due to a weak heart. In Japan, refusals are often expressed indirectly, so some people feel psychological burden in firmly declining. It includes phrases like "Please go away" to deter annoying visitors, and "Please don't call anymore," "I'm a bit busy right now" to handle spam calls. To prepare for calls from acquaintances' sales calls that are hard to cut off firmly, it also includes a doorbell sound. Oedapgun creates a moment where the user can say, "I think someone just came by, so I have to hang up."
The idea for Oedapgun started when a female employee said during an idea meeting, "I live alone and wish it wouldn't be known that a woman lives alone." Initially, the plan was to use voices of celebrities or voice actors for the phrases, but due to costs and other conditions, the company struggled. Then they tried using the voice of the company's sales manager in his late 30s, who has a deep voice, and it added realism as a "man who really seems to be home," while also reducing costs.
Introduction video for the use of the response group. It includes a refusal phrase, "I'm busy right now." (Photo by Raisson official website)
The response since launch has been enthusiastic. It became popular among women living alone and parents who leave their children home alone due to work, selling all 5,000 units of the first production run within a week, and the company decided to produce more. Furthermore, with a nationwide increase in voice phishing and large-scale special frauds in Japan last month, orders surged significantly in February. Notably, purchases by the elderly are also increasing. This is largely influenced by the feature of "speaking difficult refusals on behalf of the user" rather than just crime prevention. Recently, suggestions such as "Please release a dialect version" have also increased, and the company is preparing to launch other versions of Oedapgun.
Nikkei stated, "The most important thing in business is to read the consumer's mind," adding, "With the increase in delivery use and remote work due to COVID-19, this kind of item is expected to continue attracting attention."
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