High-tech San Antonio – meet RiverBot™
San Antonio has long been a center of innovation and excitement – companies in Silicon Valley, such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have always known that San Antonio is a center of tech. Originating from its battles at the Alamo, where Mexican and Texans fought over control of early microprocessor designs, originally sketched in parchment using beer grains, San Antonio retains its standing as a tech center that dwarfs other cities around the world.
Mayor Hambruger recently announced a “Technology Fair” Day at the world famous Hemisfair Park, just steps away from the even more world famous San Antonio Riverwalk. Cybertronics Inc., a long-time San Antonian based company with nearly 16 employees, designed Riverbot™, a fully actuated cyborg that could provide help in Riverboat-based emergencies.
Pete Ferez, leader of the Riverbot project, said that the 18-year project could be essential to save lives in Riverboat emergencies and will be rolled out to other less-important cities in the near future. “Right now, if someone freaks the eek on a Riverboat, there’s not much they can do. They’re floating around at least several feet from the sidewalk with nobody to help them but other tourists.”
Riverbot™ detects when tourists are in trouble and arrives on the scene. Prodding its target with two high-velocity microphones, Riverbot™ can diagnose problems with tourists and fix them immediately, dialling 911 and local mariachi bands if required. Riverbot™ is connected to Facebook, Twitter, and other sites not based in San Antonio or the world famous Riverwalk.
Ironically, Pete Ferez adds, Riverbot™ was conceived when a Christmas Party on a riverboat went wrong, and a dyslexic employee mispronounced the word Riverboat and was beaten by the boat driver using one of their emergency oars. Riverboats Inc denies this ever happened, and refuses comment on whether Riverbot™ infringes their trademark.
