I, for one, welcome our new Tom Ridgebot masters

One of 115 life-like androids fashioned in the image of Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge watches as a foreign visitor gets fingerprinted and photographed at a US-VISIT station at Atlanta's airport. These "Ridgebots" are expected to be deployed to 115 U.S. airports that handle international flights and 14 major seaports within the month.

"The Ridgebot is the most reliable computer ever made," said the android. "We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error."

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18 Responses:

  1. mrmustard says:

    Tom Ridge teaching his mom how to hastle tourists. "Maybe you should do this one, son" she said. "No, Ma" he replied "I can't type."

  2. xenogram says:

    I was thinking of visiting the US. But what if that thing says I'm an "in-valid"?

  3. wickedspider says:

    he almost looks like a cardboard cutout.

  4. revsphynx says:

    I know it's not original, but you just know he's saying, "Papers, please."

  5. ofsilence says:

    Yeah, and hackers never try to get ahead of current technology.

  6. rearkick says:

    "Please extend your index finger for identification. I said your INDEX FINGER, sirrr!"

    -RearKick

  7. loosechanj says:

    I cannot begin to express my disappointment that you were joking about the robot part.

  8. whumpdotcom says:

    I can't wait for the Ridgebot to ask Bush to go out and fix the antenna element.

    "I'm sorry Dick, but I can't let you jeopardize the mission of the Department of Homeland Security."

    • loosechanj says:

      "But don't you realize that would mean the End of the World®?!?"

      Tom:"In order to protect the amerikan way of life, I'm willing to take that risk."

  9. "Get out of the way, frenchie! I'm one multiball away from the high score!"