Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Robot Printer Brings Documents To Your Desk

Posted by Soulskill on from the surprised-this-is-a-thing-but-also-surprised-it-wasn't-a-thing-already dept.

mrspoonsi sends this news from the BBC: Fuji Xerox has developed a new robotic printer that can move around a lounge or office to bring documents to the person who printed them. The printer is designed to be used primarily in public places as a way to keep sensitive documents secure. Sensors on the machine prevent it from bumping into people on the way. However, some analysts argued that the idea was not cost effective when compared with other secure printing methods. Fuji Xerox — a joint venture between the two firms — has been testing the printer this month at a business lounge in Tokyo. Each desk in the lounge is given a unique web address from which to print. Users access the address and upload documents to be printed. Once the printer receives the job, it moves to the intended recipient who then has to display a smart card to activate printing.

9 of 64 comments (clear)

  1. Better Idea by raftpeople · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why not automatically scan the printed document and email it to the person?

    1. Re:Better Idea by VorpalRodent · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But you can't then just leave the printed document in the tray. That's not secure. You need to have a shredding module attached so that after the email is sent the original can be destroyed.

      --
      Take it to the limit, everybody to the limit, come on, everybody fhqwhgads.
  2. Old news.. Caterpillar had these in the early 80's by jonabbey · · Score: 2

    When I was in the fifth grade (1982), I visited the Caterpillar International headquarters' IT center in East Peoria. For some damfool reason, they had a robotic mail carrier that followed a trail of chemicals laid down into the carpeting to wander around the floor, carrying mail and such.

    This was before email, I guess, but no, I don't know why they had it either. It was boss, though.

    --
    - jon

    Ganymede, a GPL'ed metadirectory for UNIX
  3. Something I can use by greywire · · Score: 2

    Give me something I can really use.

    Like a mini fridge robot that brings me mountain dew so I dont have to walk 20 feet to the company break room.

    Seriously people. Those engineers just aren't thinking outside the box.

    --
    -- Senior Software Engineer, Attorney appearance services, locallawyerapp.com.
  4. great! by no-body · · Score: 2

    Even less movement possible in office environment. Soon there will be robots to deliver coffee and spoon-feed office workers...

  5. Re:Old news.. Caterpillar had these in the early 8 by jeffmflanagan · · Score: 2

    Sears had a robot mail cart on each floor at the Sears tower following a chemical trail too.

  6. Actually Slower than Walking to the Damn Thing by CanHasDIY · · Score: 2

    From TFS:

    Once the printer receives the job, it moves to the intended recipient who then has to display a smart card to activate printing.

    So, instead of:

    - send my job to the printer

    - walk all of 10 feet to pick it up,

    I now have to:

    - send the print job

    - wait for the printer to finish with the last person

    - wait for the printer to get to my desk from $deity-knows-where in the building (and it's a big fucking building)

    - wave some card at the printer

    - wait for the printer to finish and go away.

    Talk about "technology for technology's sake." I've seen drunk frat boys invent more useful shit than this.

    --
    An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
  7. Great! by mark_reh · · Score: 2

    Another reason not to get off our fat asses!

    Can this robotic thing actually be less costly than simply putting a $50 laser printer at each desk?

  8. Printers are cheap by hawguy · · Score: 2

    Is this really more cost effective than putting printers at each seat?