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January 27, 2006
Robots for hire
People Staff, of Nagoya, has announced two robot staff members - a receptionist "Hello Kitty" robot (left), and a care-giving "Yori-soi Ifbot" (right). Initially the robots are "hired" as temporary staff, with the option of promoting them to full-time employees. ("Yori-soi" means "to snuggle up to".)
For just under 50,000 yen 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 approximating those of a 5-year old. A human employee would earn 300,000 yen a month.
The elder-care robot is programmed to keep the aged healthy and their minds active, and as a result has a large repertoire of songs, quizzes, basic conversations, and old news stories.
Sources:
akibalive, 2004. The Yori-soi ifbot, Posted November 29, 2004, at 5:22 PM. http://www.akibalive.com/archives/000582.html. The manufacturer of the Yori-soi ifbot is identified as Dream Supply (Japan), a partnership of Business Design and Futaba Industries.
engadget, 2004. The elderly have a friend in ifBot, Posted Dec 2nd 2004 11:00AM by Susan Mernit.
http://www.engadget.com/2004/12/02/the-elderly-have-a-friend-in-ifbot/
homeupgrade, 2004. Snuggling Ifbot - The Elderly Companion Bot, Posted December 02, 2004 by Alexander Grundner. http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/387/snuggling_ifbot_the
Posted by sjc at January 27, 2006 12:19 PM
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