FURO capable of engaging consumers with variety of services
Future Robot, a maker of so called people-friendly robotics, has won a major order for its NFC-enabled kiosk known as FURO. The FURO — literally “polite” in Japanese, though Future Robot is a South Korean company — is a robotic kiosk that is designed to engage consumers in a friendly manner and provide them with services and information using a large touchscreen display. The FURO is the first South Korean robot to be released in the European market, making its debut earlier this year at the CeBIT event in Germany.
Future Robot sells over 100 FURO units to Brazilian company
Future Robot has not yet released information regarding the buyer of its FURO robots apart from that the company is located in Brazil. The Brazilian company has ordered more than 100 units of the FURO, which is plans to transform into mobile billboards that will be used in airports and exhibitions around the country. Because the robots are equipped with NFC technology, they could help in expanding the mobile commerce scene in Brazil and encourage consumers to conduct mobile transactions with their smart phones.
FURO could provide mobile commerce services
FURO is designed to actively approach people and make a short greeting before explaining the services it wishes to provide. Those not interested in engaging the robot can simply walk away without worrying about the machine following them wherever they go. Future Robot notes that the FURO has a wide range of uses in marketing, but it can also be used for practical tasks, such as serving as a waiter in a restaurant or as a sort of cashier providing mobile commerce services.
Purpose of robots not yet fully known
The particular details regarding how the Brazilian company that purchased the robots will use them have not yet been revealed. There is a possibility that the FURO will help establish a stronger presence for mobile commerce in Brazil, as it will allow travelers passing through the country’s airports to make purchases of goods from local shops without having to stand in line or worry about converting their currency.
