Hitachi's EMIEW getting into the hotel clerk game

Hitachi's EMIEW (Excellent Mobility and Interactive Existence as Workmate) bot has finally decided on a career, and instructed its masters to put it through an intensive job training program- as a hotel clerk. It's unclear which EMIEW model (Pal, Chum, or one of their new Buds) will be working alongside Sheraton Hotel mascot "Penton" at the Grand Tokyo Bay Hotel from March 6th through the 12th, but the unlucky wheeled-droid is in for the most annoying of all job-related tasks: dealing with kids all day. Penton will teach EMIEW the proper wording and behavior of a hotel clerk ("Hey you kids, stop running by the pool!," "I'm sorry sir, I have no idea why the maid would steal your watch and cellphone"), which he himself apparently picked up by watching Michael J. Fox's rather-forgettable 1993 romantic comedy, For Love or Money.

[Via The Raw Feed]

[gnome @ Feb 26th 2006 2:24PM]

Well, to be honest, such robots can't help but remind me of Douglas Adams' robots, as they appeared in the obsure but beautiful Starship Titanic. You could even chat with them on matters such as War, Sex or the Meaning of Life...

[Rex @ Feb 26th 2006 2:39PM]

"I'm sorry sir, I have no idea why the maid would steal your watch and cellphone, because I stole them!!! Muwahahahaha (Takes out taser gun to put hotel guest down, then wheels away)"

[Jason @ Feb 26th 2006 2:40PM]

It kind of looks like that one robot that was from China or Japan...I can't remember. The name is on the tip of my tongue but I just can't remember. The robot was also white in color and was able to walk down some stairs.

[guano @ Feb 26th 2006 3:02PM]

@ Jason,
You thinking of Honda's Asimov?

That acronym made me laugh. Is there something in the translation? Why are they so adamant in naming it after an ugly, flightless bird?

[Arjun @ Feb 26th 2006 3:26PM]

You mean ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative MObility).

[guano @ Feb 26th 2006 3:35PM]

Yes, thanks for the correction.

[lolersticks @ Feb 26th 2006 3:57PM]

I, for one, welcome our robotic, room-card holding overlords.

I'd comment more, but it's hard to speak after it tazered me and ran off with the maid, who coincidentally is the same maid that stole my cellphone.

[chuck @ Feb 26th 2006 6:49PM]

thats fuckin gay

[Fire Hazard @ Feb 27th 2006 12:27AM]

be funny if it fell in the pool Was the chassis a segway?

[pbase @ Feb 27th 2006 10:40PM]

�and the new reactor being built in Arizona will be used as a cigarette lighter.

Let's put advanced tech to more purposeful uses, yes?

[Patricia Jones @ Mar 1st 2006 10:09AM]

Being in the sales training and business development business, I find the use of Robots extremely "out of touch". While being "cool" or "innovative", the personal touch is obviously totally lost.

I feel that the businesses that engage this method of customer relations will quickly lose the race.

My 2 cents.

Regards,

Patricia Jones
auto sales training