Hyper-sensitive feathered friend

Button’s designers are head over heels. They’ve got a pet. And it doesn’t need looking after.

“Look, you must come and meet Phin Phin,” says Sally Conran of Button Communications Group, the consultancy responsible for the FutureVision technology attraction in Manchester (DW 10 May).

And she stands before the screen transfixed.

Phin Phin has a dolphin’s face, a fat bird’s body and a beatific expression. He is bright blue and, oddly enough, is proving very popular among Japanese housewives.

Sally likes talking to the screen: “Hello Phin Phin, hello little one, how are you today?” she croons.

And Phin Phin responds. He bats his eyelashes at Sally and flaps his wings beguilingly.

Phin Phin doesn’t like harsh voices. Shout at him a little and he turns his back. Shout a bit louder and he flies to the back of the screen and sulks.

Let’s not get carried away here. It’s only a computer. But just look into Phin Phin’s virtual eyes…