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Newest Workers for Lowe's: Robots |
2014-10-29 |
[ONLINE.WSJ] Lowe's Cos. is introducing robotic shopping assistants at an Orchard Supply Hardware store in San Jose, Calif., in late November. Lowe's, which acquired Orchard Supply last year, says this is the first retail robot of its kind in the U.S. The OSHbot will greet customers, ask if they need help and guide them through the store to the product. Besides natural-language-processing technology, the 5-foot tall white robot houses two large rectangular screens--front and back--for video conferences with a store expert and to display in-store specials. The head features a 3-D scanner to help customers identify items. OSHbot speaks English and Spanish, but other languages will be added. OSHbot, co-created by Lowe's and startup Fellow Robots, is "solving a big problem," said Kyle Nel, executive director of Lowe's Innovation Labs. It is a way to bring more shopping convenience and some of the benefits of e-commerce into a physical store. The company will have two robots working, he said. |
Posted by:Fred |
#5 ed i T, don't know about Texas but here in central Mass Lowe's employees are not only easy to find but very knowledgeable and helpful. Now, since I'm retired I'm not going in on a weekend so that maybe why, but it really isn't bad at all. One question though. Do you really have 2 dozen straight 2x6s in one store?????? |
Posted by: AlanC 2014-10-29 08:14 |
#4 It was inevitable. Have you ever tried to find a human employee in a Lowe's? Now, if the robots actually know how to find what you're looking for when you don't know what to call it. Or will be capable of helping me sort out 2 dozen straight pressure treated 16' 2X6's. (See what I mean?) |
Posted by: ed in texas 2014-10-29 07:59 |
#3 Will they paint it black? |
Posted by: Redneck Jim 2014-10-29 06:38 |
#2 If you can't get qualified help (in this economy?), build it. |
Posted by: Skidmark 2014-10-29 02:26 |
#1 will it look like Jimmie Johnson? |
Posted by: USN, Ret. 2014-10-29 00:32 |