Roboreceptionist Doesn’t Do Coffee

Robotics
Institute student Mark Michalowski, right, looks over the kiosk where "Valerie",
the new Roboceptionist at Carnegie Mellon University operates from
before the indroduction of the school’s latest foray into interactive
robots on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004 in Pittsburgh. Students and professors
from the computer science and drama departments created the personna
that greets people and gossips on the phone. Instead of just giving
out directions or telling visitors about the weather, Valerie is programmed
with her own personality. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

from Ananova