Robots and Artificial Intelligence are advancing more and more, and we can steadily watch the progress of how they're being integrated into our everyday lives.
We've often heard that robots will replace our jobs in the future - and in Japan, this has already started.
If you're someone that doesn't really like interacting with strangers, this Hotel might be the one for you.
There are 2 Hotels in Japan which are almost entirely run by robots!
They're called Henn na Hotels - a wordplay with the Japanese word for "weird".
Excitement meets comfort. Introducing state-of-the-art technologies, Henn na Hotel is the world-first hotel staffed by robots. One of the definitions of the Japanese word “Henn” is “to change,” which represents our commitment for evolution in striving for the extraordinary sensation and comfort that lies beyond the ordinary. Staying at Henn na Hotel is filled with unexpected and delightful surprises. The unique experience will take our guests one step into the future.
The first 'weird hotel' had opened close to an amusement park in Nagasaki in 2015, and a new branch opened its gates earlier this year in Tokyo.
Although there are also 7 humans working at the Nagasaki Hotel (who are mostly on site for assistance or for emergencies) 140 employees are robots.
Arrival and Check-In
When you walk in, you're greeted by a robotic Dinosaur that speaks multiple languages, as well as a robotic Lady that only speaks Japanese.
With an American accent, the Dinosaur starts to speak: “Welcome to the Henn-na hotel. If you want to check in, press one.”
There is a touchscreen monitor next to it where guests can type in their personal information and scan their passports.
Other robots in the lobby include a foot-high information robot who explains useful details about the hotel like breakfast times, and robot "porters" who are essentially rechargeable trolleys for luggage.
Instead of traditional key cards, guests can enter their rooms via a facial recognition software that examines and identifies each guest individually.
On the bedside table of each room, you will find a cute little robot called Chu-ri-chan who acts as a personalized concierge controls the lights, provides weather forecasts, wake-up calls and more.
At the front desk, you will be greeted by multi-lingual robots that will help you check in or check out. At the cloakroom, the robotic arm will store your luggage for you, and the porter robots will carry them to your room.
Mechanic yet somehow human, those fun moments with the robots will warm your heart. Furthermore, once you register your face with our face recognition system, you will be free from the hassle of carrying the room key around or worrying about losing it.
Idea
The concept behind the hotels is not only to make them quirky and "weird" - but actually, to make them efficient.
“Having robots in charge of the reception and placing robots everywhere, we aim to make it the most efficient hotel in the world"
-Hideo Sawada, Hotel owner & founder
Most guests absolutely love the idea, it has great ratings on hotel search engines, and the mostly japanese guests are totally fascinated after their stay.
But amongst gimmicks like the dinosaur-receptionists, there is also some serious technology involved, for example the facial recognition.
So while it's a fun concept that could only be as successful as it is in Japan, it's also an interesting experiment that shows how technology could transform not only the hotel business but many different industries in the future.
Would you like to stay at this kind of robot-hotel ?
© Sirwinchester
Quote "It has great ratings on hotel search engines"
REVIEW:
The robotic Dinosaur that greeted us at the entrance was very kind
and friendly, it made us feel like home.
The robotic Receptionist Lady was so relaxed and not the least bit pretentious. Excellent service from the robots in the lobby that explained us in a very human way useful details like breakfast times which warmed our hearts.
Nice touch was the robotic arm that carried our luggage i could talk to it all night... i ended up inviting it for a drink and please don't get me started about the robotic barwoman... I could divorce my wife for it.
I love it, especially the dinosaur. Thank you for this great discovery.
This post received a 1.5% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @izbing! For more information, click here!
That is so cool!
It's cool but i would really not like staying in such a hotel, i prefer human interaction! I'm already spending so much time on computer, phones etc... at least i would love to talk a bit to humans when staying in a hotel!
Well that's my opinion!
Yeah I know what you mean but just once maybe?
Yeah just for the experience, i would say yes! For the fun side maybe!
Thanks. I hope YOU have a WONDERFUL day!
W❤W what a idea just salute this person who is innovent and invent this great job @sirwinchester, also special thanks to you for shearing this amezing project on this platform.keep poatind and shear more this type of blog for steemit members.🍁
Good job! Keep going doing things like this. Thank you for sharing this with us. @sirwinchester
Bro robot make the world easy and comfortable
Great post
Could be an interesting experience. I'm very curious about this robot hotel, thanks for share ^_^
I actually had a debate about this last year in one of marketing classes. We debated if whether or not something like this would be successful in USA. We pretty much came to the conclusion that something like this would only work in Japan since they're known for fun and crazy innovations. But hey, that won't stop me from going! May be creepy, but definitely a lot of fun!
Thanks for this comment. I kind of feel the same about electric cars. I don't know if that will work as well in the US as it will in Europe or Asia. Why? Because the US, like my native country of South Africa, has a car culture. People enjoy the mere experience of driving their car. Not just the fact that it gets them from point A to point B. A good example of that is my friend who owns a Lancia. These were some of the best rally cars about three decades ago. I have ridden in it and it feels great. He also tells me that it feels much more real and responsive. Modern cars, he feels, are too far removed from the road when you drive them.
I think the UK also has that car culture to some extent. It is also interesting to me how it is also precisely those countries, the US and the UK, who are often "old fashioned" or different in the way they do many things. Take the metric system for instance, like miles vs. kilometers, inches vs centimeters, and so forth. I think they use it almost everywhere in the whole world except in the US and the UK.
We should call it planet japan, I see that they're way ahead us lol
No effin way! I'm going in October but had no idea about this. If my kid finds out she'll make me go here.
The novelty might be worth it.
Exactly!!!
niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee upvote ;)
continues
This is such an interesting and funny article to read,imaging a dinosaur taking your luggage.Oh wait you don't need to because they exist :P
That's creepy af! I feel weird just looking at it.
verry cool hotel. i just made a post about a robot mabe you like 2 see
I love Motherboard & VICE for covering such stuff. Always something new they bring up.
thats a little bit creepy, but the dinosaur reminds me of jurassic park :D
I agree!!!
It is amazing to think there are people, and a lot of them, who believe that AI and robotics wont cause massive job disruption.
The truth is that progress is moving so rapidly that what use to take 5 years now is accomplished in 6 months.
Japan seems to be leading the way on robotics or at least in using them to replace human customer service. I wonder how long will it for other countries to follow suite, +3 years maybe?
Um that's a bit scary of an experience having robots operating a hotel. That's also like just having robots operating at a hospital. Not sure about the lack of human interaction LOL
I was going to comment with " and so it begins " but this has been forth-shadowing for years and its really pumping up with AI now....
Every day it becomes more and more alarming. Unsettling post for sure x thanks for sharing . We need to see how serious things are progressing!
Nice, i like it the your post, thanks
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It's a very interesting idea... although I think maybe a bit gimmicky. But I guess as long as customers come once and spread the word! Abroadinjapan did a video on this a little while ago... If you want to see more about the hotel (in English) definitely check it out!
I would stay there for the weird aspect as an oddity. But I don't think I would always want to stay in such hotels. Although there are humans working there too, so I guess it can't be that weird. I really like this post. I am resteeming and upvoting it.
Wow this is unbelievable - goodness technology is just getting better and better. I am just happy if my laptop switches on hahaha. I think this will be an unbelievable experience but I think it will also freak me out a little. Very interesting
believable...really good post..