Robot Catches A Wave in State College
By: Adam Paluka
Updated: May 7, 2010
COLLEGE TOWNSHIP, CENTRE COUNTY - It is tax season, and that means accounting firms across the region are trying to find creative ways to get your return in their hands. Here is a new one, a waving robot.
“People don't even realize she's a robot. We have people that go by and yell and scream and hoot and holler and honk their horn and wave,” Danielle Brumbaugh, Office Manager at Liberty Tax Service, said.
Some more are oblivious.
“Everybody still thinks there's a real person out here,” Michele Briggs, the owner of the store next to Liberty Tax Service Nature’s Pantry, said.
Others are fascinated.
“That's pretty neat, that's pretty neat,” Doris Robinson of Milesburg said Wednesday.
Meet Robowaver, she is the woman who has been perplexing drivers along College Avenue since mid-January.
Liberty Tax Service said there is no doubt she is doing her job.
“The wavers draw attention to us so that people know we're here the statue of liberty is an icon, so we use to get attention from people,” Brumbaugh said.
Brumbaugh said for the past two years Liberty Tax Service was getting fewer human applicants to be wavers, so they want another direction.
“She's out there in the rain, the cold the snow it doesn't matter. She never comes in for hot chocolate, hand warmers, nothing.”
A car battery is what makes the $2,500 machine wave like there is no tomorrow. Because she is so low maintenance, Robowaver took jobs away from four fun loving locals.
“Robowaver's not quite as entertaining as some of the real people, some of them were quite animated when they were out here, but Robowaver attracts her own following I think,” Briggs said.
“Robowaver don't break dance, she don't do jumping jacks she pretty much just waves back and forth,” Brumbaugh said.
But some folks realize Robowaver has an advantage over almost all of us.
“I know that that young lady’s arm doesn't get as tired as those guys do standing there,” Robinson said.
“People don't even realize she's a robot. We have people that go by and yell and scream and hoot and holler and honk their horn and wave,” Danielle Brumbaugh, Office Manager at Liberty Tax Service, said.
Some more are oblivious.
“Everybody still thinks there's a real person out here,” Michele Briggs, the owner of the store next to Liberty Tax Service Nature’s Pantry, said.
Others are fascinated.
“That's pretty neat, that's pretty neat,” Doris Robinson of Milesburg said Wednesday.
Meet Robowaver, she is the woman who has been perplexing drivers along College Avenue since mid-January.
Liberty Tax Service said there is no doubt she is doing her job.
“The wavers draw attention to us so that people know we're here the statue of liberty is an icon, so we use to get attention from people,” Brumbaugh said.
Brumbaugh said for the past two years Liberty Tax Service was getting fewer human applicants to be wavers, so they want another direction.
“She's out there in the rain, the cold the snow it doesn't matter. She never comes in for hot chocolate, hand warmers, nothing.”
A car battery is what makes the $2,500 machine wave like there is no tomorrow. Because she is so low maintenance, Robowaver took jobs away from four fun loving locals.
“Robowaver's not quite as entertaining as some of the real people, some of them were quite animated when they were out here, but Robowaver attracts her own following I think,” Briggs said.
“Robowaver don't break dance, she don't do jumping jacks she pretty much just waves back and forth,” Brumbaugh said.
But some folks realize Robowaver has an advantage over almost all of us.
“I know that that young lady’s arm doesn't get as tired as those guys do standing there,” Robinson said.
