Robot ticketer greets amusement park visitors, offers frightening glimpse of the future
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Nov 12th 2008 7:38PM
posted Nov 12th 2008 7:38PM
Manufactured by NEC, this new FeliCa payment terminal (seen here at iEXPO 2008 in Tokyo) is designed for amusement parks, arcades, or any place where a whimsical touch-screen device might trick you into spending more money than you normally would. And if handing control of your e-wallet to an android wasn't bad enough, in addition to selling tickets and dispensing data the device boasts integrated facial recognition for identifying and profiling park visitors -- a feature to be used for determining your demographic information and pointing you towards appropriate "amusement," such as a restaurant for Ma or a wave pool for the kiddies. What could possibly go "worng," you ask? Have you even seen Westworld?
What could possibly go worng, you ask?
What could go wrong?
This bot reminds me of the T-103 from the movie Terminator 3.
Scares me because it may have a machinegun at it's arm any moment now...
EDIT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1TrE7LdNV0
Look at around 5:35 and you can see it. Same silver armor. Scary...
Yay, the first ageist, sexist robot! Here's hoping that Jim Crow 3000 will be released soon.
FeliCa - "thank you for coming to iEXPO, may i direct you to the nearest fried chicken and watermelon vendor?"
Oh shit, ahahahaha. That's hella wrong :P
I'm calling Sarah Connor right now so she can take care of this...
Looks like we are living in some alternate universe where Skynec is the evil.
How would Dennis Hopper and his band of Jet Ski pirates link up with evil robots?
They said WESTworld, not WATERworld.
I would go to a theme park way more often if I could buy tickets from Mr. Thunderclese!
That face is very friendly.
The mighty Gundam refuses entry!!!
I like how your new avatar is a simpsons reference and also indicates that you are a troll.
It looks more like it was designed by Izubuchi (of Patlabor fame. And he's worked on humanoid robot designs in the past) than Okawara or Katoki.
By "greet" I think he means "mercilessly tears the eyes out of"
What is up with the ears? It looks like some freakish Ratchet & Clank lovechild.
And, does anyone else think that the robot seems poised to strike someone with that stance?
Really actually the antenna ears reminds of the mechs from Patlabor. http://www.animecritic.com/patlabor/anr-patlabor1.html
Yeah, my first response was "Alphonse!" as well.
I'm thinking that any dispensers (ticket, receipt or otherwise) should be removed from the crotch area post-haste. Seeing a ticket slowly emerge from down there and then having to grab it would definitely creep me out.
The dispenser looks to be a bit higher than that.
That thing looks like it's full of Sassy Cat Crudcakes...
Why is it in the form of a humanoid? Why not and ATM type machine? Don't get it...
"Because it's cool"
"Sir, after inserting your Card, could you itch my balls?"
dude,are you seeing the same picture?
son i want you to show me on the doll where the bad robot touched you.
am i missing something?
hi
Please don't do that! You're just opening yourself up to all kinds of ridicule from Engadget denizens. You can't just randomly say "hi" on some random post. Some people here just read your comment and get this rush of self-superiority as they come up with some witty reply to simultaneously insult and entertain. You're an idiot!
(Oops, sorry, I just did it, didn't I?)
Minus the witty part.
kinda just looks like a touch monitor with a big plastic head and arms. talking things without heads kinda freak me out though so thats good that it has one i guess
Morbo says: HE WILL DESTROY ALL PUNY EARTHLINGS!!!!
mu hahahaha!!!
MEDIBOT!
i think its cool
I think it's creepy.
You're both wrong! If there's one adjective that applies here, it's definitely "nerdelicious".
"My eyes are up here sir."
This is amazingly impressive... They put a normal touchscreen kiosk into a robot-esque case! Holy shit, what will they do next?
Seriously. Robot? Fail.
yipee, a kiosk with plastic parts to make it look like a sad robot rip-off. Apparently no one watches horror movies things like this where used back in the old side show days, less technical perhaps but still. Its been so long since I seen something thats genuinely neat or cool. Come on put up some suicide booths instead with live web feeds. hmmmmmm.
According to Futurama, we should start seeing Suicide Booths by the end of this year, you know.
Welcome to Itchy & Scratchy Land!
Don't miss the Robot Parade at noon, but please, no flash photography!
"Sorry folks, park's closed! Moose out front should've told ya."
I'm sorry, you want me to stick WHAT??? in your slot???