Mineta San Jose International Airport introduced three new “employees” on Tuesday — a trio of robots named Norma, Piper and Amelia to help travelers find their way around the airport.
The triplets are a far cry from the lifelike hosts on HBO’s “Westworld,” but these robots won’t attack you when you’ve asked for directions to San Jose Joe’s too many times. (At least, we hope they won’t.)
Closer in appearance to Rosie, the Jetsons’ cantankerous maid, Norma, Piper and Amelia are outfitted with huge touch screens that people can use to find shops, restaurants and gates or take a selfie, which you can either email or put on the robot’s face for a short while. They even have a “dance” mode, though it’s not quite the Electric Slide.
The bots — which are stationed at Gates 11, 21 and 25 — are the first of their kind in a U.S. airport, and the $120,000 price tag for the program was picked up by the airport’s concessionaires. If you’re wondering about the names, they pay tribute to aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, airplane manufacturer William Piper and the airport’s namesake, Norman Mineta, the former San Jose mayor, U.S. representative and U.S. secretary of transportation.
Future Robot, a South Korean company, designed and manufactured the robots, which have stylized Caucasian features similar to Japanese anime characters. And that was more than a little puzzling, since the robots are being deployed in Silicon Valley — one of the most diverse areas in the country.
If more robots start roaming the airport — or if Norma, Piper and Amelia get a makeover — it would be nice to see some new faces. And until then, we can always “selfie” our own images onto theirs.
SIGN OF THE TIMES: Sculpture designer Darin Wacs will unveil her new monumental sign for the Palo Alto Art Center and Rinconada Library on Saturday as part of the continuing celebration of the art center’s 45th anniversary.
The 3,300-pound steel sign, which will be placed at the intersection of Newell and Embarcadero, took nine weeks to fabricate. “My focus is creating works that emphasize the importance of art and placemaking,” said Wacs, who also created signs for the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo and Children’s Library. “I hope to capture the art center and Rinconada Library’s mission and all that it gives to Palo Alto in this installation.”
In addition to the 4 p.m. unveiling and celebration, the art center will showcase several contemporary pieces designed by Wacs for the next month.
ZOMBIES WANTED, INQUIRE WITHIN: There’s probably not too many casting calls wher the main requirement is the ability to appear undead. But that’s exactly what Pear Theatre in Mountain View is seeking for its December production of “Geeks vs. Zombies.” They need four to six people to play zombies and a make-up person who can help them look the part. Email peartheatre@gmail.com for details.
Meanwhile, downtown Campbell will be the place to get your zombie on Friday, as Adira Dance and Costume is sponsoring a “Zombie Crawl,” with people dancing in costume to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on Campbell Avenue between Third and Central. The ghoulish fun gets started at 7 p.m.
And some energetic zombies will be putting on their sneakers for Saturday morning’s “Run with the Zombies” at Kelley Park in San Jose. You don’t have to be in costume to participate in the family-friendly event, which is a fundraiser for the San Jose Parks Foundation, but there is a contest for anyone who does dress up.
The gates open at 6 a.m., with the contest at 8 and the race at 9. Get registration information online at dreamteamevents.org.
