A Robot at Best Buy Sells CDs, DVDs, Games
October 5th, 2015Service with a smile.
Via: Fox 5:
Best Buy is experimenting with full automation — in the form of a robot — to sell a decidedly old-fashioned medium: CDs and DVDs. I’m in my 40s, so yes I remember vinyl records, tapes and even 8-tracks. So I still do like buying at least some of my music on that soon-to-no-longer-exist format called the compact disc.
When I walked into Best Buy in Chelsea recently to get Chris Cornell’s latest album (“Higher Truth” — it’s pretty good), I was surprised to see a row of ATM-like kiosks in front of a glassed-in compartment housing a yellow robot. That robot’s name is Chloe. And its job is to sell you music, movies, games, and accessories.
Definitely a “Rise of the Machines” item, which sadly contains the same retarded media tropes as 99% (or more) of the (manufactured) “stories” which pass for “news”.
For example : “that soon-to-no-longer-exist format”
Have you ever noticed how EVERY new technology is ALWAYS described the death of that which came before? Remember how compact discs were the death of vinyl records and cassettes. How’s that working out?
This shallow semantic technique plays on the inculcated desire for the “latest thing” hammered into the “civilized” western (and increasingly global) consciousness. The reality of the matter is not important. It’s a well-understood limbic button being pushed. I’ve pushed a few buttons in a past life (read: career). Sadly, it works on all but the truly cynical, carefully-trained minds who’ve learned how to step off the “consumer” merry-go-round and establish value independently.
There are other devices on display in the limited quote above, and more in the full text linked. Try it out. How many can you spot…?