Robot receptionists to debut in Japan
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TOKYO (Reuters) - Need temporary help on your company's reception desk? One Japanese employment agency is suggesting you try recruiting a robot.
For just under 50,000 yen (240 pounds) a month, a fraction of the cost of a human temp, the PeopleStaff agency will despatch Hello Kitty Robo, a robotic receptionist capable of sensing a visitor's presence, greeting him or her and holding simple conversations.
The Nagoya-based agency is also offering the services of Ifbot, an elderly-care robot that chats and poses riddles and arithmetical problems to train the brain and help avoid dementia. Spaceman-like Ifbot, which also quizzes people about their health, is aimed at hospitals and old peoples' homes.
A spokeswoman for PeopleStaff said it would cost more than 300,000 yen a month to employ a person for this type of work, but warned that the robots were not capable of doing everything human employees can do.
Taken from:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060126/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_japan_robot;_ylt=AsGsVsUu6vujpdT6Mr9g1xjtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
And Bear aways said Hello Kitty is evil
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Gee, I for one, would NEVER be caught dead having a CONVERSATION with a robot! I mean, what the... !!! 
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kewl. i hope they can talk better den ALICE.
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not easy leh.. even the speech recog is a feat.Originally posted by Rhonda:
Gee, I for one, would NEVER be caught dead having a CONVERSATION with a robot! I mean, what the... !!! -
Apparently they think that people would want to have a conversation with one.Originally posted by Rhonda:
Gee, I for one, would NEVER be caught dead having a CONVERSATION with a robot! I mean, what the... !!!
I think I might just to test the AI -
I think this is another sign the human race is going down the toilet.
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I wonder why can't they have a pretty andriod but have a Hello Kitty Robot????
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May I be the one to pull the flush??Originally posted by av98m:I think this is another sign the human race is going down the toilet. 
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I mean, it's pathetic when you have to resort to making conversations with a robot just to while your time away and to meet your communication needs!!!!Originally posted by elindra:Apparently they think that people would want to have a conversation with one.
I think I might just to test the AI
What's wrong with talking to fellow human beings?!
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Originally posted by Rhonda:May I be the one to pull the flush?? Evil!
I think they don't make robots of pretty receptionists because they'd get stolen by guys. Esp single guys.
(If they made one that looked exactly like Tifa from Final Fantasy Advent Children using Realdoll technology I'd steal it!) 
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I still prefer YunaOriginally posted by av98m: Evil!
I think they don't make robots of pretty receptionists because they'd get stolen by guys. Esp single guys.
(If they made one that looked exactly like Tifa from Final Fantasy Advent Children using Realdoll technology I'd steal it!) -
Originally posted by elindra:I still prefer Yuna
See, this is why people mistake you for a guy when you're online. -
Originally posted by av98m:
See, this is why people mistake you for a guy when you're online.
But I like looking at pretty girls as well -
Originally posted by elindra:
But I like looking at pretty girls as well
So you and your SO oggle at girls together when you go out? -
Originally posted by av98m:
So you and your SO oggle at girls together when you go out?
I oggle more than he does or he's very discret -
Originally posted by elindra:
I oggle more than he does or he's very discret wow!
So you'll be the one going "hmm..nice rack on that one!" and he'd be like "orh!" -
Something like thatOriginally posted by av98m: wow!
So you'll be the one going "hmm..nice rack on that one!" and he'd be like "orh!" -
talk about preventing dementia, if old folks are seen talking to a robot, won't people start thinking that they are senile? Or even worse... the people themselves might think they are senile... hmmm
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Remember...it's not a robot..it's a Hello Kitty RobotOriginally posted by breytonhartge:talk about preventing dementia, if old folks are seen talking to a robot, won't people start thinking that they are senile? Or even worse... the people themselves might think they are senile... hmmm
I think they will just call the mad house
I mean just imagine walking into the office and instead of seeing the receptionist you see a Hello Kitty sitting on the chair -
It certainly does nothing for the corporate image!Originally posted by elindra:Remember...it's not a robot..it's a Hello Kitty Robot
I think they will just call the mad house
I mean just imagine walking into the office and instead of seeing the receptionist you see a Hello Kitty sitting on the chair A time and place for all things... and Hello Kitty doesn't have its place in the office! Not professional at all! -
at least no bad breath issue rite?Originally posted by Rhonda:It certainly does nothing for the corporate image! A time and place for all things... and Hello Kitty doesn't have its place in the office! Not professional at all! -
I agree! Can you imagine walking into something like a BMW showroom or a corporate office and you see a hello kitty? Trust the japs to come up with the weird and the wacky...Originally posted by Rhonda:It certainly does nothing for the corporate image! A time and place for all things... and Hello Kitty doesn't have its place in the office! Not professional at all! -
Hey, how many receptionists do you know of who actually have bad breath?!Originally posted by InnoHippo:at least no bad breath issue rite? -
none ........ but some have really bad service attitudeOriginally posted by Rhonda:Hey, how many receptionists do you know of who actually have bad breath?! 
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Sometimes, if put ourselves in their shoes... everyday, they have to face demanding and impolite Singaporeans who might disrespect their profession and be rude to them and all that. They're poorly paid, and there might be just one of them when the sheer volume of their job might actually necessitate another staff or so.Originally posted by InnoHippo:none ........ but some have really bad service attitude
Not making excuses for bad service... but sometimes, we have to be a tad empathetic and a little less ready to 'see your manager / supervisor' and lodge complaints against service staff.