Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Sales Robot IRI-Millennia Opens Gates Of Hell
The IRI Millennia Robot is a salesrobot now available from International Robotics, Inc. It is an adult-size multilingual interactive robot that is able to communicate with any age, social, ethnic or cultural group in any type of environment.
(Robot salesman from IRI)
For now, the IRI Millennia Robot relies on flesh-and-blood IRI spokesman Robert Doornick to chant its wonders:
The Millennia is able to overcome the fears and anxieties that limit many human communicators. This allows the robot to act as an effective PR, marketing, advertising, promotional, educational or entertainment tool. In addition to a very sophisticated remote control system used for live interaction, the robot is programmable for automated presentations, with new presentations able to be transmitted wirelessly via the robot’s on-board Wi-Fi connectivity. Just trigger the corresponding command, and the Millennia will gladly oblige, supporting a Keynote Address, Press Conference or exhibit, complete with speech, motions, music and audio effects.“We operate our robots according to well-defined and well-proven parameters in human psychology and communication,” said Doornick. “Our robots have been designed based on 35 years of pioneering research. It is all based on science and a well-proven technique. After many years of experience using our adult-size multilingual Communication Robots in clinical and educational environments, we have learned to bond rapidly with people while removing the typical stress, suspicions and defense mechanisms often associated in a human-to-human interaction,” explains Doornick. “This is particularly true in the highly competitive business, consumer and political environments of our modern day world.”
Eventually, of course, the robot will sell itself:
"I am sure, Mr. Morris, you would like to own me. I am reasonably priced and fully guaranteed... I cannot conceive of taking no for an answer...""Get out of here," Morris said evenly. "Get out of my house and don't come back."
"I'm not your [robot] to order around. Until you've purchased me at the regular list price, I'm responsible only to Self-Regulating Android, Inc. Their instructions to me were to the contrary; I'm to remain with you until you buy me."
(Read more about sales robots from Sales Pitch, by Philip K. Dick [1954])
Sure, one of these robots would probably be cute. But what happens when every company in America has thousands of these salesrobots coming after you? Don't bother straining your imagination; Philip K. Dick can clue you in:
Robot-salesmen were everywhere, gesturing, pleading, shrilling. One started after him and he quickened his pace. It scurried along, chanting its pitch and trying to attract his attention, all the way up the hill to his living-unit. It didn't give up until he stooped over, snatched up a rock, and hurled it futilely. He scrambled in the house and slammed the doorlock after him. The robot hesitated, then turned and raced after a woman with an armload of packages toiling up the hill. She tried vainly to elude it, without success.
(Read more about sales robots from Sales Pitch, by Philip K. Dick [1954])
Read the IRI Millennia robot press release for additional terrifying - no, make that charming and sales-worthy - details.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 10/13/2007)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
SnapBot Robots - You Choose Their Legs And They Choose Their Gaits
It's not really polite to tear the limbs off robots.
Humanoid Robots Building Humanoid Robots
''Pardon me, Struthers,' he broke in suddenly... 'haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?'' - Isaac Asimov (1940)
What's The Best Way To Ship And Unpack Humanoid Robots?
'I opened the oblong box, where lay the automatons side by side...' - Elizabeth Bellamy, 1899.
SpiRobs Soft Spiral Robotic Arm
'Beware the 'long, flexible, glittering tentacles...' - HG Wells, 1898
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Tiny Flying Robot Weighs Just One Gram
'Aerostat meant anything that hung in the air. This was an easy trick to pull off nowadays.'
Some Ringworld Configurations Are Stable
'The Ringworld had no horizon. There was no line where the land curved away from the sky.'
TRANSFORM Dynamic Furniture Concept Becomes What You Need
'An adjustment panel outside the door would cause it to extrude various appurtenances in memory plastic...'
Harvard Metamaterials Change Structure Instantly
'Annealed in any shape for a time, and codified, the structure of that shape is retained down to the molecules.'
SnapBot Robots - You Choose Their Legs And They Choose Their Gaits
It's not really polite to tear the limbs off robots.
Dino From Magical Toys An AI Companion To Children
'...the imaginary companions discovered by needful children.'
Humanoid Robots Building Humanoid Robots
''Pardon me, Struthers,' he broke in suddenly... 'haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?''
Darpa 'Defiant' Unmanned Autonomous Ship
'There was no wheel, and no steersman!'
What's The Best Way To Ship And Unpack Humanoid Robots?
'I opened the oblong box, where lay the automatons side by side...'
DNA Printed Book By Isaac Asimov Now Available
'They tied the memory to the bloodline and that was their record!'
AI Computer Chip Designs Passeth Human Understanding
'It seems that at one time computers were designed directly by human beings.'
Space Traffic Management (STM) Needed Now
'...the spot was a lonely one in an uncharted region, far from the normal lanes of space traffic.'
Fine-Tune Your Infinite Book The Way You Want It
'I squatted down beside the roller and tried to make some sense out of the knobs. There were thirty-nine of them...'
SpiRobs Soft Spiral Robotic Arm
'Beware the long, flexible, glittering tentacles...'
Holland Factory 3D Printing 500 Tons Of Steak Per Month
'...I don’t understand technical things — tell me, does it ever feel anything?"
Stratospheric Solar Geoengineering From Harvard
'Pina2bo would have to operate full blast for many years to put as much SO2 into the stratosphere as its namesake had done in a few minutes.'
