USA: Robot store in New York City attempts to bring bots to the mainstream

Record ID: 401703

  • Title: USA: Robot store in New York City attempts to bring bots to the mainstream
  • Date: 17th March 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAVID GREENBAUM, OWNER OF ROBOT VILLAGE SAYING: "Well I consider robot village a temple of technology. It's a place where people come in and learn. They're educated. We kinda lift them up to another level of understanding of what robots are because a lot of people walk in here and they don't understand what's a robot store. When you tell people 'I
  • Embargoed: 1st April 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Science / Technology,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA55GG8YQ2D0YT2KRTYMN7JYN7E
  • Story Text: When David Greenbaum watched "Lost In Space" as a child he assumed that by the year 2000 everyone would have a robot. That didn't happen. But he is doing his best to change that.
    Greenbaum's boutique-workshop, Robot Village, in New York City is trying to bring robots to the mainstream. It has bot-building stations, where people can assemble their own robots under the guidance of a store employee, robot parties for kids, and bot-building classes.
    "Well I consider robot village a temple of technology. It's a place where people come in and learn. They're educated," said Greenbaum. "We kinda lift them up to another level of understanding of what robots are because a lot of people walk in here and they don't understand what's a robot store. When you tell people 'I work in a robot store - what is it?'. So you're really educating them on technology."
    It may be educational but it's also fun.
    "I just don't know why it's fun for me but I just like robots," said Linus Jakovson, an eight-year-old boy in the robot building class.
    The classes also aims to stimulate children's imaginations.
    "Well I (unclear) make like a robot that had robosapien hands. One of his claws was and even with a big body with a big hand. It would be waterproof and it would have shields," enthused nine-year-old Thomas Fiero.
    But the classes aren't just for kids. As of November, Robot Village offers classes for adults as well.
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