Skip Navigation
StreetEasy Logo

robots replacing doorman?

Started by jason10006
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5257
Member since: Jan 2009
Discussion about
BTW, the doorman in the story lies: humans malfunction ALL THE TIME. Its called getting sick, making a mistake, falling asleep on the hob... http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/hi_tech_screen_doors_HXiFa9VvRrUqmKcyYArokO
Response by lizyank
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 907
Member since: Oct 2006

Oh that will work very well every night when half the building orders delivery and the person who comes doesn't speak a word of English.
And robots will do an excellent job of watching my stuff while I go return my rental car (or watching the car while I take stuff upstairs). Not to mention accepting packages and giving keys to people who need to work in my apartment and making sure they get them back.
I won't even comment on how much fun it will be to talk baseball with a robot.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by Riversider
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 13569
Member since: Apr 2009

This may work for non-luxury buildings or five unit lofts. Door men servicing luxury buildings with many residents have nothing to worry about. Nice solution for buildings with few residents. It offers some but not all of what a live person can do.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by nyc10023
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 7614
Member since: Nov 2008

I like the virtual doorman service better - when it's connected to someone in the Bronx (?) who presumably understands deliveryman-ese.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by jason10006
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5257
Member since: Jan 2009

I would assume that the robot doormen would have the option of you talking to a live person, just like automated customer service lines. if its food delivery, the person would be YOU in your own apt.

And lizyank, you are talking about CONCIERGES as much as doormen. There is no reason you could not cut a building with three guys on duty down to two or one and replace some of them with robot doormen.

And robots would not gossip so much.

Anyway, we will see. I am not sold on the idea, but I am intrigued. We have gotten used to checking in at airports, doing most of our personal banking, and booking travel via computer. Many stores now let you scan your own groceries, etc. I am CERTAIN this will pop up, even in luxury buildings (albeit as I said as a "supplement" to concierges.)

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by scargo
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 36
Member since: Dec 2008

Computers understand language like real gud.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by marco_m
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 2481
Member since: Dec 2008

be perfect for certain indiscretions

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by Truth
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5641
Member since: Dec 2009

Jason: Liz is talking about doormen, not Concierges. In Manhattan, that is what doormen do, on a daily basis. They hail cabs, too.
And, a robot would not have reasoning skills: when the delivery guy shows up with the food in a bag that has the wrong information, wrong name or apt.#. The doorman figures out who is home in the building, usually knows where residents order from, and can buzz you on the intercom to ask, if the wrong phone # is on the food order.

Not a big fan of robots. Maybe it's because of that movie: "The Demon Seed".

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by jason10006
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5257
Member since: Jan 2009

I think many doormen no understand english good.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by lizyank
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 907
Member since: Oct 2006

Jason I don't know about your doormen but in our building all of the doormen are 100% bilingual and speak flawless English, some as their first language. It is also extremely helpful that they also speak Spanish considering how many delivery people (not just food) and service providers are not English fluent.
Last summer I distributing fliers for an event my non-profit group was having on the UES. I noticed that in many of the "prestigious" buildings (79th Street for example, we didn't even try Park Ave) the doormen were not Latino. I remember thinking that, unless they had learned Spanish along the way, they would be at a disadvantage with the many people that come into and out of a building during 24 hours. Of course then I remembered that people in those buildings may not order from pizza places and diners the way the rest of us do and their cleaning ladies are probably live in maids.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by falcogold1
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 4159
Member since: Sep 2008

About three years ago I couldn't stand it anymore. I was home one night. I called a meeting with my posessions. I got everything I owned into the living room. My toaster, my clock, my blender. They never been in the living room before. And I spoke to them. I opened with a joke. And then I said "I know what's going on, and cut it out!" I have a sun lamp, but as I sit under it, it rains on me. And I spoke to each appliance, I was really articulate. Then I put them back, and I felt good. Two nights later I'm watching my portable television set, and the set begins to jump up and down, and I go up to it. And I always talk before I hit, and I said "I thought we had discussed this, what's the problem?" And the set kept going up and down, so I hit it, and it felt good hitting it, and I beat the hell out of it. I was really great, I tore off the antenna, and I felt very virile. And two days later I go to my dentist in New York. I had gone to my dentist, but I had a deep cavity, and he'd sent me to a chiropodist. I'm going into a building in mid-town New York, and they have those elevators, and I hear a voice say "Kindly call out your floors, please", and I say "sixteen" and the doors close and the elevator starts going up to sixteen. And on the way up the ellevator says to me "Are you the guy that hit the televison set?" I felt like an ass, y'know, and it took me up and down fast between floors, and it threw me off in the basement. It yelled out something that was anti-semetic.

The upshot of the story is, that day I called my parents, my father was fired. He was technologically unemployed. My father had worked for the same firm for twelve years. They fired him. They replaced him with a tiny gadget, this big, that does everything my father does, only it does it much better. The depressiong thing is, my mother ran out and bought one.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by glamma
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 830
Member since: Jun 2009

if i got attacked in the entrance would the robot save me?

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by Truth
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5641
Member since: Dec 2009

No, that's a job for me, "Underdog"!

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by NYCMatt
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 7523
Member since: May 2009

"if i got attacked in the entrance would the robot save me?"

How often does this really happen?

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by NYCMatt
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 7523
Member since: May 2009

"Last summer I distributing fliers for an event my non-profit group was having on the UES. I noticed that in many of the "prestigious" buildings (79th Street for example, we didn't even try Park Ave) the doormen were not Latino. I remember thinking that, unless they had learned Spanish along the way, they would be at a disadvantage with the many people that come into and out of a building during 24 hours."

Why should the DOORMEN be the ones at the disadvantage?

If you come to the United States to live and work in the United States, LEARN FCUKING ENGLISH.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by rvargas
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 152
Member since: Nov 2005

Charming and thoughtful!

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by jasieg16
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 123
Member since: Oct 2009

this system will not replace doormen. Try Reading the details before flying off the handle as soon as you hear robot doormen. This system will replace video intercom and buzzer systems in smaller buildings, extend the services performed by virtual doormen system in smaller buildings, and in some cases replace night doormen. For larger luxury buildings the applications are limitless. The system can be modified to be used for limited acces areas inside the building like gyms, lounges and rooftops (think about the biometric systems that related uses to keep non-paying residents out of their gyms). These systems could also be useful for access to buildings from a garage or rear door. In small buildings the system will improve on the unmaned systems in place, but in luxury doormaned buildings the system "for 15K to install vs 40k per year for a doorman" will drastically reduce common charges and maintanance costs. This means that you must say goodbye to the nightman, or the poor guy that mans the side door that no one uses. The best part about the new system is that the lack of union affiliation. We never need to worry that on the 30th of april the machines will strike.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by malthus
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 1333
Member since: Feb 2009

"if i got attacked in the entrance would the robot save me?"

In all the movies I have seen, robots are much stronger than people.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by jason10006
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5257
Member since: Jan 2009

I agree with jasiegl that for large buildings this will not replace all doorman/concierges. Some. When I lived in Fidi, we had 2-3 on duty at all hours save 2AM-6AM, when there was one. Who was generally asleep when I got in at that time.

We COULD have had 1-2, with one robot. Or 3 at times, with all three actually helping people and not sitting around gossiping about tenants.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by jason10006
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5257
Member since: Jan 2009

Also I would almost PREFER both, since in VERY large buildings, the doormen dont even recognize all the tenants anyway, or know when ex-roommates moves out, or crazy ex-boyfriends are coming to stalk and should not be allowed in, etc and biometrics would be more secure.

I am thinking normandie court, or the mega buildings in the east 60s and such.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by kylewest
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 4455
Member since: Aug 2007

I think electronic doormen are better than just buzzers. If a building must choose between nothing and this, I guess it is okay. But for buildings of a certain quality, the robots obviously won't fly. For me, like many people, having a doorman was a requirement before I considered a building. I simply wouldn't live in one without the doorman. I need someone to put my dry cleaning in the closet, sign for my packages, help me to and from my car when I have a lot of groceries or packages, watch my things while I go get the car to load it up, have my spare keys ready on a moments notice when I do a bi-weekly bonehead move and forget my set somewhere.

I also like the security the doorman offers: burglaries are virtually impossible and it gives me peace of mind. If there's an issue in the lobby or just outside, the doorman calls 911 and/or assists. It may not happen a lot, but if it is once a year that's enough for me. I think his presence also has a very strong deterrent effect.

Doormen cost a lot of money and I understand why some people can't afford it and must compromise. But there will always be those of us who can afford doormen and wouldn't live without them.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by clemencedane
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 15
Member since: Feb 2010

I can just see the robot malfunctioning and not recognizing me. Once I can afford a doorman I want a real one. And I doubt very much that a building that replaces one of three doormen with a robot would reduce common charges.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by Truth
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5641
Member since: Dec 2009

"Danger, Will Robinson! Danger, Will Robinson!..."

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by NYCMatt
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 7523
Member since: May 2009

"And I doubt very much that a building that replaces one of three doormen with a robot would reduce common charges."

THANK YOU.

Kind of like how the toll for the George Washington Bridge was supposed to just pay for the construction of the bridge.

60 years later we're still paying the toll.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by 30yrs_RE_20_in_REO
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 9766
Member since: Mar 2009

"This system will replace video intercom and buzzer systems in smaller buildings"

I don't see how it does that? This system seems to be only for residents. What do you do about visitors? You still need the ability to communicate and let people in from inside your unit. The only thing I see it doing is making it impossible for anyone to lend their keys to anyone to get into their apartment (it's just a step further along the line of Multilock or other non-duplicable front door keys). personally, I see it creating more problems than it solves because now you can't give a set of keys to your maid, delivery services, friends, etc.

I guess it would also help curb illegal sublets.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by 30yrs_RE_20_in_REO
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 9766
Member since: Mar 2009

burglaries are virtually impossible:

http://gothamist.com/2005/01/07/doorman_robs_sutton_place_apartment_building.php

http://www.lowesforpros.com/safety-and-security-checklist
" Know your tenants. That is a crucial step in maximizing building security, say the experts. Little recognized is that many apartment building crimes are "inside jobs," that is, tenants burglarizing other tenants. A preventative step is to get to know prospective tenants before signing leases. Ask for and call references, urge the security experts.

Also double check prospective workers. Oftentimes, they too are prime suspects in apartment building crimes. Getting to know them by checking referrals is a big step toward eliminating that worry. "Background checks are a must," says Mike McCann, president of New York-based McCann Protective Services. "You don't want to bring the wolf into the chicken coop."

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by 30yrs_RE_20_in_REO
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 9766
Member since: Mar 2009

"And I doubt very much that a building that replaces one of three doormen with a robot would reduce common charges."

THANK YOU.

Kind of like how the toll for the George Washington Bridge was supposed to just pay for the construction of the bridge.

60 years later we're still paying the toll."

Did anyone tell you guys that money is fungible? Following the same argument, no one should ever institute a Flip Tax, since the Coop won't reduce the maintenance even tough it's collecting extra money.

The GWB analogy goes awry because the money spent on tolls doesn't go to the people paying it (or an organization in which they are shareholders), it goes elsewhere (Port Authority) and spent on other projects.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by jasieg16
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 123
Member since: Oct 2009

The system will contact residents via cell phone or however it is setup and through a touch tone menu yuo can select what to do with the visitor. speak to them, let them in, turn them away, or even alert the police. I assure you that the obvious "holes" you are all pouinting out have been addressed. The system is state of the art and the latest generation of this technology, not a first attempt at such things.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by 30yrs_RE_20_in_REO
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 9766
Member since: Mar 2009

Funny, that's not what the article says:

"If the computer recognizes the voice, the person is let in. If it doesn't, central security staffers can check by phone."

So what position do you hold at Kent Security Services?

BTW How does it know what resident to contact automatically when it has no idea who the person is or who they are there to see?

If you are going to have an intercom system anyway - which I what I'm saying, well, we have had intercoms systems which use phone lines to contact apartment owners for over 30 years, so THAT is nothing new at all. So I still see this as a slightly better in some situations, slightly worse in others as a "do not duplicate" key.

What I DO think it is a nice potential revenue enhancement "add-on" for the various "virtual doorman" companies because the pretentiousness of it will play well with the types of buildings who pay for a lot of those virtual concierge services.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by glamma
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 830
Member since: Jun 2009

i associate virtual with sub-par. is it me?

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by Truth
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5641
Member since: Dec 2009

"DANGER! WARNING!,DANGER!, WARNING!" (the robot, "Lost In Space")

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by nyc212
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 484
Member since: Jul 2008

I wonder if this system can stop "that guy" who follows you into the bldg. when you open the front door...

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by falcogold1
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 4159
Member since: Sep 2008

Would these robots also have the capacity to pleasure humans?

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by 30yrs_RE_20_in_REO
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 9766
Member since: Mar 2009

Sure: the scanner they use is a laser. They just turn it up to 1,000 jewels on the other guy.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by 30yrs_RE_20_in_REO
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 9766
Member since: Mar 2009

why did the software turn joules into jewels?

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by Truth
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5641
Member since: Dec 2009

Falco: Check out "The Demon Seed" movie, for the answer to that. They can also knock female humans up!

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by falcogold1
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 4159
Member since: Sep 2008

The Demon Seed...love that movie!
I was thinking a little more utilitarian.
You Know...
Come home late from drinking, no luck fishing and, you pull a George Jetson on the Robot.
Do the walk of shame at the next board meeting.
Holiday tips soar.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by Truth
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5641
Member since: Dec 2009

Ah, who needs a robot for that? A Steely Dan is already available.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by landcomm1
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 11
Member since: Mar 2010

If the toilet seat breaks, will the robot replace it at no charge?

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by NYCMatt
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 7523
Member since: May 2009

"I wonder if this system can stop "that guy" who follows you into the bldg. when you open the front door..."

Good point.

I hate being the asshole who has to actually slam the door in someone's face, but I'm sorry ... I don't know who you are, and I'm not letting a stranger in my home just to be courteous.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by somewhereelse
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 7435
Member since: Oct 2009

> "And I doubt very much that a building that replaces one of three doormen with a robot would reduce
> common charges."
> THANK YOU.
> Kind of like how the toll for the George Washington Bridge was supposed to just pay for the
> construction of the bridge.
> 60 years later we're still paying the toll.

Either way, still a GOOD IDEA. So one more for the virtual doorman pros list.

If they use the money for something else, fine if something else is good. Its a coop, so YOU choose what you want.

And I love tolls. They reduce traffic, and force folks to determine the value of the trip. If you have $10k in high end food to deliver, you pay the $5....

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by jason8
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 20
Member since: May 2009

"why did the software turn joules into jewels?"

1. Obtain portable generator situated near the diamond district
2. Use aforementioned software
3. Profit

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by lizyank
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 907
Member since: Oct 2006

I agree that a "virtual doorman" is an upgrade versus a bell or intercom system (although I've seen video intercoms and I don't see what the difference is for a virtual doorman). But it is NOT an upgrade, or an acceptable replacement for a doorman (who in many buildings--including mine) also performs the duties of the concierge.
Just another thing to consider, will a virtual doorman assist an elderly person, or a mom with a stroller and packages, to get or down the few steps outside?

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by jason10006
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5257
Member since: Jan 2009

I think everyone agrees that this would either be a replacement for intercoms, the night doormen for part time buildings OR a supplement to human doormen in large buildings.

However, I DO think this would lower common charges in the latter. Many large buildings will have 3 on duty at peak times, and you only would need two (or even 1) at a time if the person checking people in to the building was a machine.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by somewhereelse
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 7435
Member since: Oct 2009

I lived in a higher end non-doorman building. Didn't miss the doorman at all (in fact, nice not having to chit chat sometimes) except for.... packages and deliveries. The good systems I've seen take care of that nicely.

Given you need to essentially pay 3 salaries to have one doorman, I'm way fine taking that tradeoff.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by wad
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 99
Member since: Dec 2008

Yesterday I visited a relative in a very nice building. 2 doormen didn't know his name (didn't even bother looking at the directory) and told me that I had the wrong building. Mind you this is at least the 5th time in 1 year they've done this. I let them know that in fact they were wrong and that they should check the directory. They did and offered no apology. Unbelievable.

Another time I was waiting for a friend in her lobby. A couple of girls had walked through. The doorman and one of the other workers in the building then talked about who she was bringing home and her personal details. I overheard it all, even though I was a stranger and they didn't know me.

And I'm not sure what protection you guys expect. If someone has a weapon, short of a policeman and luck there is no logic to depend on doormen. If someone is only using their hands to intimidate you, right in front of your door, so that your doorman can see (already this situation sounds ridiculous), I suppose once in a while your doorman will risk bodily harm to come to your aid and it will be featured in the Post. But don't depend on this.

Accepting laundry, food delivery, help carrying bags is different. But I remember an article in the Times about how people had remote doormen - where someone in a central location services several buildings and lets people in accordingly. The UPS guy would be allowed into a special room to drop off deliveries. Help carrying bags is nice...but how much do you want to pay for it?

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by jason10006
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5257
Member since: Jan 2009

Exactly, doormen or mostly useless.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by kevin5
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 95
Member since: May 2009

I just want to say not all doormen/concierges are useless. It depends on the individual. Some people care some dont. There are lots of things that we do that cant be done by robots. Some of the things that I have been a part of are ... Staying several days without going home during 9/11 making sure the building was safe. During the blackout went to the apartments of all the elderly men and women to make sure they were ok and to see if they needed anything. During the blackout helped carry a 90 year old women down 9 flights to another apartment to make sure she wouldnt be alone. She stayed with the building manager. Countless times over the years we have had to go up to apartments to help elderly who have fallen. We have called ambulances for those in need. We have called the police when needed and even ocassionally have to physically restrain people. When you relatives cant reach you by phone they call us and ask us to go upstairs and check on you. When you are sick we pick up stuff you need from the store. When you leave your medicine behind after you have left for vacation we go to your apartment and get your stuff and fedex it for you. When you left your passport and were already at the airport we went upstairs retrieved it and took a cab to airport so you wouldnt miss your flight. We feed your animals so you can be at peace when you are away. We water your plants so they are still alive when you come for your monthly visits. We put your groceries away for you when you are too frail to do it yourself. We act as role models for your kids. They actually look up to us since they have no preconcieved notions of who or what we are. We keep your abusive ex from entering the building. We stop the homeless guy from harrassing you in the street. I can go on. My point is that we do a lot of things that you arent even aware of. Yes some of us are horrible and incompetent but its like that in any job.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by wad
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 99
Member since: Dec 2008

kevin5 you are absolutely right. There is a lot that a doorman can do. I don't want to put down your job. It is an honest job and you are entitled to the pay that the building offers you. We live in America after all.

What I am saying is that there are downsides that can't be avoided also with having a doorman. It's sorta like living in a pre-war and having the charm but also a few of the problems. It is what it is.

So I personally think that a lot of the "necessary" tasks that can be automated or done through a central doorman service should be considered by a building. Following that, all the "extras" that can only come from having a doorman (like what you do) should be considered and the residents should decide how much they really want those things.

Plus, there are doorman buildings...and then there are doorman buildings.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by jason10006
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 5257
Member since: Jan 2009

^^what s/he said. You don't need THREE doormen at a time, you probably only need 1 or 2 plus the robot. And when it comes to letting in the right people or keeping out the wrong ones, I would take any number of computer programs over people, ESPECIALLY in a very large building. If the computer "malfunctions", the human doorman on duty or a phone call to the tenant will suffice to allow a guest to get in.

Ignored comment. Unhide
Response by NYCMatt
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 7523
Member since: May 2009

Sorry, but I remain firmly in the camp that doormen are worth it, if only for:

-- package deliveries (these new fancy-schmancy 'digital doormen" systems don't always work they way they should)

-- Not letting strangers slip in behind tenants or people who have been legitimately buzzed in.

Ignored comment. Unhide

Add Your Comment