Flower Robotics Inc.'s Palette robo-mannequin
By Ryan Block 
posted Feb 28th 2005 2:01PM
posted Feb 28th 2005 2:01PM
What's the biggest problem with mannequins (besides the fact that they don't come to life—right? Right?)? Well, for starters, they don't move. Unless, of course, you have a Tatsuya Matsui mannequin, made by Flower Robotics Inc. Their robo-mannequins (la femme is named Palette) not only moves, but pays attention to where consumers are positioned, and poses so as to strike their attention; the robots also use cameras and software to collect aggregate data by judging consumers' age, sex, and shopping habits. Thankfully, they're juuust sub-creepy as they aren't expected to be sold with faces—that would just be freakout overkill, being watched and monitored by the glassy eyes of robotic fashion sentinels.
*shudders*
Now somebody put a gun and targeting system into this mannequin ... *yikes*
Wasn't this sort of thing the basis for an Alan Parsons Project video?
The stage was now set for The Alan Parson's Project, which I believe was a hovercraft of some sort...
HJS
If the mannequins can do THESE things, why not go the whole 9 yards ? Put a nigh realistic face on with motion tracking eyes. Program it to recognize and answer simple questions in multiple languages like how much the stuff it's modeling costs, where's the ladies room, etc.... Give it bar code scanners in the eyes so you can bring it other items for a price check.
All these things are possible and already exist, just knit it all together...
Of course, if people did that it would only be a matter of time before they made these things mobile within the confines of the store, then they'd probably follow you around and spew ads and commercials at you...
And so is born the Spam-a-quin !
It would be pretty creepy for our generation though. Advertising or no...
If the mannequins can do THESE things, why not go the whole 9 yards ? Put a nigh realistic face on with motion tracking eyes. Program it to recognize and answer simple questions in multiple languages like how much the stuff it's modeling costs, where's the ladies room, etc.... Give it bar code scanners in the eyes so you can bring it other items for a price check.
All these things are possible and already exist, just knit it all together...
Of course, if people did that it would only be a matter of time before they made these things mobile within the confines of the store, then they'd probably follow you around and spew ads and commercials at you...
And so is born the Spam-a-quin !
It would be pretty creepy for our generation though. Advertising or no...
Um, you don't think it's creepy to have a moving mannequin that poses seductively and watches your every move... without a face!?
Some time in the next twenty years someone is going to make a fortune selling mannequin repellent.
Doctor Who versus the Autons!
Dear Friends of ENGADGET . Congratulations for your marvelous site. These Robo-Mannequins are wellcome here in Brazil . We are the best country to apply them in our shopping malls. By the way, how much does it cost? The best applications would be in Transit Security , in High-Ways, in Airports .Thanks. Sincerely Yours, ERic Lince
Dear Friends of ENGADGET . Welcome to these Robo-Mannequins here in Brazil . The best applications would be in Transit Traffic , in our best high-ways to prevent accidents and in our shoppings malls for events. Thanks . Sincerely Yours, ERic Lince