Hello Receptionist?

*Katie* · 04-13-2006, 10:27 AM

Can a robot replace your receptionist?

A Japanese temp agency wants robotic rentals modeled after characters like Hello Kitty to man the front desk.
Diane Anderson, Business 2.0 Magazine
April 11, 2006: 3:50 PM EDT

(Business 2.0 Magazine) - So far, computers have displaced assembly-line workers, telephone operators, and musicians. Now a Japanese staffing firm wants to add front-desk personnel to the list. In February, Nagoya-based People Staff launched a service called Robot Dispatch: For $424 a month - or one-sixth the cost of one of the firm's human temps - Japanese companies can rent an electronic receptionist shaped like Hello Kitty.

Manufactured by Business Design Laboratory, also based in Nagoya, the 20-inch-tall Hello Kitty Robo can recognize as many as 10 faces, ask visitors to speak their names, and tell them when the person they have come to see is ready. With 20,000 stored conversation patterns, songs, and riddles, the robot is arguably more entertaining than many real attendants. Cheaper too. "Many Japanese corporations don't have a person at reception," says Chihiro Yamada, a People Staff spokeswoman. "If a company wants to hire a receptionist, we can save them money."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Robots! They're gonna take all the entry level jobs!!!!

*KROW* · 04-13-2006, 11:06 AM

One word: H.E.R.B.I.E.

*Mecha Cow* · 04-13-2006, 12:05 PM

Talking to a Hello Kitty robot? Sounds pretty akward to me.

*iris* · 04-13-2006, 12:12 PM

Wow. That sounds really annoying, with extra cheese. But so are the computer receptionists you get when you call any big company.

*Dr. Doom* · 04-13-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecha Cow

Talking to a Hello Kitty robot? Sounds pretty akward to me.

-=Stands next to a Hello Kitty robot, shifting restlessly=-

Soooooooo

uhhhhh

....how are you? ^_^;;

*Hannah* · 04-13-2006, 09:32 PM

Next: Giant Furbies.

**GK Punk** · 04-13-2006, 10:26 PM

Dude, I want hello kitty to answer *my* phones.

*Raph's Girl* · 04-13-2006, 11:15 PM

Hello Kitty receptionists??? WTF?

*walks into the office....see's a large anthromorphic big headed cat at the desk, quickly runs away in horror*

Ra · 04-13-2006, 11:25 PM

I read about this in the paper a few days ago. In a sense, it is good that they are advancing robots; the sooner they take over the world and appoint themselves as our masters, the better

Although, I am tempted to get one and get it to prank call my Natzi neighbours

*Dr. Doom* · 04-14-2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ra

I read about this in the paper a few days ago. In a sense, it is good that they are advancing robots; the sooner they take over the world and appoint themselves as our masters, the better

Although, I am tempted to get one and get it to prank call my Natzi neighbours

FOOL!!! THIS WORLD SHALL BE RULED BY DOOM AND NONE OTHER!!! NO MERE DEVICE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLI---what the.....

-=Looks over to see a Doombot humping his leg=-

BAH, DAMN IT ALL!!!!! >_<

Ra · 04-18-2006, 07:06 AM

Oh, don't worry Doom. I'm sure that in time the robots will give you half of their profits for being so evil and...Robotic-esq, dare I say it *hides*

04-13-2006, 10:27 AM	#1
Katie Just...way too serious. Join Date: May 2005 Location: purgatory Posts: 3,519	Hello Receptionist? Can a robot replace your receptionist? A Japanese temp agency wants robotic rentals modeled after characters like Hello Kitty to man the front desk. Diane Anderson, Business 2.0 Magazine April 11, 2006: 3:50 PM EDT (Business 2.0 Magazine) - So far, computers have displaced assembly-line workers, telephone operators, and musicians. Now a Japanese staffing firm wants to add front-desk personnel to the list. In February, Nagoya-based People Staff launched a service called Robot Dispatch: For $424 a month - or one-sixth the cost of one of the firm's human temps - Japanese companies can rent an electronic receptionist shaped like Hello Kitty. Manufactured by Business Design Laboratory, also based in Nagoya, the 20-inch-tall Hello Kitty Robo can recognize as many as 10 faces, ask visitors to speak their names, and tell them when the person they have come to see is ready. With 20,000 stored conversation patterns, songs, and riddles, the robot is arguably more entertaining than many real attendants. Cheaper too. "Many Japanese corporations don't have a person at reception," says Chihiro Yamada, a People Staff spokeswoman. "If a company wants to hire a receptionist, we can save them money." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Robots! They're gonna take all the entry level jobs!!!! __________________ THE WORLD IS JUST AWESOME

04-13-2006, 11:06 AM	#2
KROW Meat-n-Potatoes Man Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: State's Anus, NY Posts: 6,472	One word: H.E.R.B.I.E. __________________ - Optimus Acid Trip - Cult of a Half-Shell - Raiden's Bitter Tongue - *I don't try to be funny; I fail at it naturally.*

04-13-2006, 12:05 PM	#3
Mecha Cow Gorgeous and modest too Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 3,699	Talking to a Hello Kitty robot? Sounds pretty akward to me. __________________

04-13-2006, 12:12 PM	#4
iris moddy mod mod Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: finally escaped the lab Posts: 1,886	Wow. That sounds really annoying, with extra cheese. But so are the computer receptionists you get when you call any big company. __________________ Appeal to nobler motives. Like pie. [ life is at best bitter sweet ]

04-13-2006, 09:32 PM	#6
Hannah Once more, with feeling! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 4,111	Next: Giant Furbies. __________________

04-13-2006, 10:26 PM	#7
GK Punk I'm your Devil Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,439	Dude, I want hello kitty to answer my phones.

04-13-2006, 11:15 PM	#8
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	Hello Kitty receptionists??? WTF? walks into the office....see's a large anthromorphic big headed cat at the desk, quickly runs away in horror __________________

04-13-2006, 11:25 PM	#9
Ra It's my desire? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In your pants. Posts: 4,441	I read about this in the paper a few days ago. In a sense, it is good that they are advancing robots; the sooner they take over the world and appoint themselves as our masters, the better Although, I am tempted to get one and get it to prank call my Natzi neighbours __________________ "So. The whole lot of you against little old me? How retarded."

04-18-2006, 07:06 AM	#11
Ra It's my desire? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In your pants. Posts: 4,441	Oh, don't worry Doom. I'm sure that in time the robots will give you half of their profits for being so evil and...Robotic-esq, dare I say it hides __________________ "So. The whole lot of you against little old me? How retarded."