Animated Robots Will Soon Replace Unpopular Kiosks

A fierce battle is raging in shopping malls around the world. Marketers are fighting for your attention as you change from store to store. From the late 1990s up until a couple of years ago, electronic kiosks were the weapon of choice to bombard shoppers with sales pitches but lately their aim is off and their ammunition is limited.

Why should shoppers stop to look at a screen when they’re already carrying smartphones and tablets, phablets and notebooks at all times? Now some marketing generals are deploying new soldiers in the battle to stand out: Robots.

FURO are interactive robotic greeters that can interpret a shopper’s facial expression, tone of voice and movements to provide specially selected salutations. Imagine walking into a store and having one of these robots (like the two-tone pink one below) roll up to you. If you’re not terrified, curiosity will likely lead you to explore further.

Photo Credit: Aving

Take a look at the below video and you’ll see these FURO robots can speak many languages, making them ideal for exhibitions, airports and shopping malls and restaurants in multicultural mega cities like Seoul. Yep, the FURO can even serve you dinner and happily accepts credit cards.

Just like it’s human counterparts, FURO needs an occasional lunch break to refuel. Thankfully it’s smart enough to know when it’s batteries are running low and can automatically plug itself in.

FURO is the first Korean robot to be released in the European market. Brazil also didn’t miss out the opportunity and recently ordered 100 FUROs that will be used to promote products, give directions to people at airports and exhibitions. Soon you might find these friendly robots in your own hometown.