The Giant supermarket chain's roving robot Marty was the subject of a front-page article in the Feb. 22-23 issue of the Wall Street Journal. The reporter, Kate King, tells how the robot's engineers were first irritated by the googly eyes affixed by a store employee, but they came to realize that it actually humanized the automaton.
Tim Rowland, chief executive of Badger Technologies, is quoted as saying, "Marty's eyes and name help customers feel more comfortable around the 140-pound robot as it circles stores reporting spills and other potential hazards for cleanup."
According to the story, customers' reactions to Marty range from slugging him with a full bag of groceries to inviting him to a winter formal (alas, he had to send his regrets as he was working).
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