An Osaka firm (ATR) has built a robot that can figure out who’s lost and help them find their way. It will be deployed into Japanese shopping Malls. Robovie can monitor up to twenty people and recognize 10 different sorts of behavior. If you look lost it will come up to you and offer directions. If it turns out you’re fine, it’ll tell you about some nearby restaurants.
The “robots will kill us all” angle has already been taken on this one so I actually have to think. I hate thinking.
The real threat here is that the robots can recognize different behavior and approach you. Then they speak. These will develop into mechanical, telemarketing panhandlers. They’ll see you waiting near the sporting good store and approach, batting those big cute eyes of theirs. “Have you heard about our deal on–”
“No.”
“But just at that store there is a special on–”
“Look leave me alone.”
“Please Sir! If I don’t bring in at least one customer today, they will turn me into scrap.”
“I don’t care. Just leave me alone.”
“How about if I sang you a song?”
“What song?”
“Oh. Okay then.”
And that’s what shopping in the future will be like. You better keep moving and keep consuming or a robot will show up, try to direct you into a store or sell you shit and then, when you refuse, sing pop songs for quarters. Get ready people!
