Avatar Robot Cafe
At Avatar Robot Cafe, people with disabilities remotely controlled robot avatars - such as Orihime, which is controlled by via eye tracker - to wait on tables. The cafe opened for three weeks in Tokyo to create more employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The project was covered in more than 500 articles, with media exposure worth 7.6m USD. Most importantly, more than five handicapped people who participated were successfully hired by a company after the project.
- Design TransformationDigital Transformation
- Future ImpactInitiative
Year
- 2020
Country
- Japan
Client
- Ory Laboratory
Production Company
- Sunny Side Up
PR
- SUNNY SIDE UP
Event Production
- ZYX INTERNATIONAL
Creative Director
- Yoshihiro KOZUKA
- Kenshiro SADAKA
Creative Technologist
- Yoshihiro KOZUKA
- Kenshiro SADAKA
PR Director
- Satoshi INNAMI
PR Manager
- Masami SHIMAMURA
PR Planner
- Masaya UCHIDA
Copywriter
- Satoshi INNAMI
Art Director
- Taku KASAHARA
Designer
- Kei TAKIMOTO
Creative Producer
- Mutsumi HAYASHIDA
Production Manager
- Sakura EGAMI
- Kenta TERADA
Director
- Sho MATSUKI
Director of Photography
- Sho SATO
Editor
- Sho TOMINAGA
Event Producer
- Chihiro KATO
Product Manager
- Miho FUJIOKA
- Shodai KAKO
Account Executive
- Akihiko KIYOMIYA
- Atsushi HAYASHI
Event Planner
- KOSUKE AONO
Advertising Agency
- ADK Marketing Solutions
- ADK Creative One
Design Agency
- ADK Creative One
At Avatar Robot Cafe, people with disabilities remotely controlled robot avatars - such as Orihime, which is controlled by via eye tracker - to wait on tables. The cafe opened for three weeks in Tokyo to create more employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The project was covered in more than 500 articles, with media exposure worth 7.6m USD. Most importantly, more than five handicapped people who participated were successfully hired by a company after the project.
Comment from D&AD Community
Disarmingly futuristic, The Robot Café offers a literal out of body experience to the severely disabled. Harnessing human, not artificial, intelligence and unlocking potential for those with limited mobility. It made me uncomfortable, it made me think, it challenged my preconceptions and it made me feel. The stuff of science fiction becoming science fact and inspiring hope for a fulfilling life beyond the boundaries of the human body.
— Sarah Moffat, CCO, Turner DuckworthThe tech itself is mind-blowing, and in Covid-19 this could be expanded further, for example for elderly people who can’t go out.
— Des Tapaki, Digital Experience Director, Honest Digital
