These days no one is surprised by the latest innovations in technology – even a working robot in the grocery store isn’t massive news. For a long time fantasy movies were telling us unrealistic stories about robots living between us, acting like us, feeling like us. But how unrealistic is it?
Last Monday in Tokyo’s Mitsukoshi Department Store, wearing traditional kimono and smiling to the customers, a female called Chihira Aico began her work. She is the world’s first female robot receptionist. She can move, talk and even sing. This android was developed by microwaves-to-power stations conglomerate Toshiba, and presented at a tech event last year.
With her healthy looking skin, pink lips and almost natural movements she looks nice – if a little freaky at the same time.
“We are aiming to develop a robot that can gradually do what a human does” said Hitoshi Tokuda, chief specialist at Toshiba, “technology is evolving quickly and someday robots like Chihira could replace humans for certain jobs.”
Machines already do many things for us so who knows what robots can do for us next!
Chihira Aico will be working at the store until the end of the day, after which she will take a part in a series of promotional events during Golden Week holidays.
