A female "avatar" -- in the form of a life-size hologram -- will soon
begin greeting and guiding people at special kiosks at the New York
area's three airports.
Dubbed
"Ava," the computer-generated customer-service rep can respond verbally
when asked questions on everything from where the nearest restroom is
to where customers should head for a connecting flight.
The virtual worker is projected on a pane of glass that was given the figure of a woman.
She
was designed to improve customer service, Port Authority officials said
-- and she does not need lunch or bathroom breaks or overtime pay, to
boot.
The gimmicky gal is
set to debut at La Guardia and John F. Kennedy International airports in
Queens and New Jersey's Newark Airport in July.
The hologram setups are being rented on a trial basis for about $180,000 for six months.
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