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
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"There was a time when one old eccentric guy with a notebook could do something important to science. Now even the resources of a major university are often not enough."
- Jerry Pournelle
 |
| Sales Robot (Robot Salesman) | ||
| Fully automated robots giving untiring, incessant sales pitches to customers. |
Autonomous robotic salesmen - salesrobots - are the bane of consumers in this Dick classic.
| 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.
|
| From Sales Pitch,
by Philip K. Dick. Published by Future Science Fiction Magazine in 1954 Additional resources -
|
The picture is taken from the original story as it appeared in the magazine.
This story has too many good quotes to pass up:
Sales robots are also in use in Stanislaw Lem's 1961 novel Return from the Stars.
Morris pushed wearily past the salesrobot, up the sidewalk toward the residential-block that contained his living-unit. The robot followed a few steps, then forgot him and hurried after another grim-faced commuter.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 1 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Sales Pitch
More Ideas
and Technology by Philip K. Dick
Tech news articles related to Sales Pitch
Tech news articles related to works by Philip K. Dick
Sales Robot (Robot Salesman)-related
news articles:
- Sales Robot IRI-Millennia Opens Gates Of Hell
- Robovie Robot Gives The Sales Pitch
- ENON Upgraded To Sales Robot
- Robots In Advertising Mostly CGI, Fortunately
- Sales Robots More Persistent Than Humans
- Mall Robotic Ad Won't Leave You Alone
- OSHbot, Lowe's Robotic Shopping Assistants
- Norlin Shoe Drone Robot UAV In-Store Delivery Thing
- Sprint Wants Sales Robots
- Artificially Intelligent Poster - Advert That Writes Itself
- The Coming Hell Of ChatGPT Salesbots
| Terrifying Robotic Apple Harvester |
| Jetson-Style Clockwork Robot Nail Salon Coming To Target Near You |
| Mechanical Horse Sculpture Gallops In Place |
| Hotels Turn To Robots As Human Workers Regroup |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
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 Science Fiction 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
'The pokkecon rang again. *The coffee’s for him?* Tsuyoshi said.'
The Jetsons imagined so much future.
'Rod placed the brain inside the panel... the horse raised its head, wiggled its ears, blinked twice, gave a tentative whinny.'
'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.'
'Chain of hotels that specialized in non-human service.'
'But then... not every bulldozer operator works on the Moon.'
'Griff found the white and pink map distracting and switched it off using his tongue mouse.'
