By now many consumers would consider digital maps and smartphone apps essential to the shopping experience, but Japan is making interaction seem more human again with the help of an android called Aiko Chihira.
Aiko is the android made by Toshiba that gained fame as a humanoid that can care for elderly patients, man reception stations, as well as speak and sign. Now, the high-end Mitsukoshi department store in Nihonbashi is using Aiko as a guide to help consumers get around. The bot is programmed to have several friendly facial expressions, bow and provide directions throughout the store. Since Aiko is also versed in sign language, people with hearing impairments can also understand her clearly.
As part of a promotional event for Toshiba, Aiko will only be stationed at the department store for a limited time. However, as androids become more capable and life-like, in the future, robots like Aiko could be a staple in retail shops.
Android Shop Assistants
Shop Robot Aiko Chihira Helps Customers at Mitsukoshi
Trend Themes
1. Human-like Shop Assistants - Creating androids that provide natural interaction and personalized assistance to customers in retail shops can revolutionize the shopping experience.
2. Merging Digital and Physical Worlds - Incorporating advanced digital technologies, like sign language interpretation, with physical retail offerings can appeal to a wider audience including those with hearing impairments.
3. Temporary Promotional Androids - Promoting products by introducing androids in department stores at limited times can create unique opportunities for engagement and promotion.
Industry Implications
1. Retail Industry - Integrating human-like androids as shop assistants can provide retail stores with a competitive advantage by offering a more personalized, adaptive, and cutting-edge customer service experience.
2. Robotics Industry - Developing natural and interactive androids for customer service roles opens up new market potentials that can fulfill growing demand for smart, empathetic robots.
3. Healthcare Industry - Expanding the use of androids originally designed for serving elderly patients in healthcare settings to other industries, like the retail industry, can create new market opportunities and contribute to the growth of the robotics industry.