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© KYODOTokyo cafe to open with robot waiters remotely controlled by disabled
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© KYODO
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IloveCoffee
I do not want to be served by a robot. I want a human interaction. The only reason they are pushing these broken ass robots is because 1) they can't find staff, and 2) labor costs. These jobs should be given to teens or immigrants, but the minimum wage law and labor regulations are making that difficult.
that person
@ILoveCoffee
Is it so bad to think that instead these jobs are being given to disabled people? That's such an ignorant statement you made. I hope you weren't thinking when you said
"These jobs should be given to teens or immigrants".
If it weren't for the people operating them behind the scenes, I would've been inclined to agree with you, but I'm so impressed they gave the job to severely disabled people!
IloveCoffee
@that person
I would rather be served by a disabled person than a robot. In fact, i would very much enjoy being served and having an interaction with a disabled man. I do not want to be served by a robot, especially a broken ass robot.
GyGene
Well then ilove, just stay away. This is a great idea and very helpful to some people who otherwise might not be able to work in a coffee shop or restaurant. I live it, and can hardly wait to go to this shop!!
IloveCoffee
It would be even greater if they would be allowed to hire some of the thousands of disabled teens who would love to serve customers and have a human interaction.
Ganbare Japan!
People who doubt if robots are the future in jobs in Japan, need to read this amazing story. Hotels, restaurants and farms will all be hiring more robots than human within 20 years.Robots can work 24 hours and we dont have to pay them any Salary.
This is great for disabled people too, they can enter the job market by working with robots and further boost the economy.
puregaijin
I’m in two minds. Sure it’ll be a good thing, but since I have absolutely no complaints about how the human service has been at restaurants (no, really) I think I’d go with the smile and the wink for now.
Yubaru
Not at all,but the disabled people are being used in this as well and THAT is wrong. If this company was truly interested in assisting the disabled, then pray tell why is the cafe only open for a couple of weeks?
The cafe, which will open on weekdays from Nov 26 to Dec 7,
Personally speaking, I would much rather interact with the disabled person than the robot as well. It would be a great opportunity for people to see that just because someone has a disability they are productive members of society too!
The company should make their "employees" av available to interact with the customers, even if they are not physically in the shop itself.
Oh and I hope they are getting more than 800 yen per hour!
arrestpaul
Are these robots subject to Asimov's Laws?
Yubaru
No you dont have to pay them any salary but their maintenance costs and upkeep, and the need to have qualified....wait for it....HUMAN's to service them will make them too costly for the average Japanese family farmer, along with small to middle sized businesses that need people to do more than one specific "robot-like" task all day long.
Sure robots are fine for repetitive tasks, but without a human to control these robots, they are meaningless in the service industry.
You keep suggesting differently, but you fail to accept that even here in this article, the costs involved are actually DOUBLE, because the robot needs a human controller as well.
Not noted either is, who cleans up after these robots service the customers? Right a living human has to be there to wash the dishes and clean the tables properly.
My dog can fetch me my beer, dont need a robot, and I get the added affection of a few licks from my dog, dont want THAT from a robot!
that person
@IloveCoffee
I'm with you on that one, but severely disabled people, as stated in the article just cannot provide restaurant service. They can't carry cups and plates.
that person
@Yubaru
Why would you assume they are taking advantage of the ones behind the scene? Of course, it's possible, but no where has it been mentioned or complained about. I definitely hope they're being paid and treated fairly.
→→→→→→→→→→Yubaru
Why...the following sentence from the article.
These people are being used as a publicity stunt, from the article alone, it's an easy assumption to make, as it states nothing else about the company utilizing them for any other service or work
9 days of work....think about that!
mukamo
For heaven's sake - at least address them as handicap or persons with disabilities. Not just "disabled".