Slashdot Mirror
New Robot Can Help You Find Your Way
BoingBoing is reporting that a new robotic assistant may soon be able to help you find your way the next time you are lost in a mall or a supermarket. The latest demonstration from the Osaka-based Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute (ATR) showcased "Robovie", a semi-humanoid robot designed to monitor up to 20 people at a time and classify each person's behavior into one of 10 categories (waiting, wandering, walking fast, etc). Whenever it was able to classify someone as disoriented it would approach them and ask "are you lost", if the answer was yes it provided directions, otherwise it just recommended nearby shops and restaurants.
After which I could say "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto"?
Why would this be better than a couple of those big store maps with a you-are-here marker and a store legend? Unless it actually directs you to follow it to your destination like a stormtrooper following a mouse droid down the halls of the Death Star. Then it'd be awesome!
Demented But Determined.
Clippy come back, all is forgiven!
Paid Q&A/Research
"Spare change?"
"You lookin' at ME?"
"Mister, buy me a drink?"
"Are you sure you're not Richard Stallman?"
"I think my nuts are loose. Check 'em for me?"
Damn lameness filter. Please read in all caps.
What are you doing?
ARE you shop lifting??
you are SHOPLIFTING
shoplifter... shoplifter
exterminate!
exterminate!
ex - term - i - nate!
I just hope it says "DOES NOT COMPUTE" when it doesn't understand something.
"...welcome our well-meaning, friendly robotic overlords, and greatly appreciate their help."
Hmm.. I can see this help you speak of getting old very fast. Will these robots have the ability to identify individuals who have already been asked if they need assistance?
When I end up in places like malls it is usually because someone I know needs something, and I just end up meandering around aimlessly. I could see these things - even the same robot - asking me over and over again if I need assistance.
And what about people uncomfortable with the technology (many seniors perhaps). These people would decline the assistance and then be confronted with the bots endlessly throughout their trip to the mall?
Unless they can ID people who have already declined assistance these bots will fail.
It's any thing like the self check outs then keep it out of the stores if you are not willing to do a lot of testing be for deploying it.
Robot: Are you lost? May I assist you?
Foreign Tourist: Why, yes. Can you direct me to the....(consults foreign-language/English dictionary)...."Deep Fried Human Babies" store?
Robot: Yes, McDonald's is located in the Food Plaza, located at the top of the escalators. Good day and thank you for shopping MegaMall!
Sir, you look concerned about the size of your phallus. With VPXL+ you'll watch with amazement as your pen!s grows into the powerful, thickest, hardest, and most biggest tool you`ve ever imagined - the one you`ve always fantasized about having! No pen!s en`l@rgement system is faster, easier to use, or more effective than VPXL+ - GUARANTEED!
Bring on the spam delivering robots! They pronounce the obfuscation punctuation too.