Giant Robot Imprisons Parked Cars

[Steve MB]

Giant Robot 1, Hoboken 0:

Originally Posted by Wired News

The robot that parks cars at the Garden Street Garage in Hoboken, New Jersey, trapped hundreds of its wards last week for several days. But it wasn't the technology car owners had to curse, it was the terms of a software license.

The garage is owned by the city; the software, by Robotic Parking of Clearwater, Florida.

In the course of a contract dispute, the city of Hoboken had police escort the Robotic employees from the premises just a few days before the contract between both parties was set to expire....

In the days that followed, both sides dragged each other into court....

In the meantime, many of the garage's customers simply couldn't get their cars out....

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Robotic Parking of Clearwater, Florida: [surprised] Prime!
Hoboken Prime: One shall stand, one shall fall.
Robotic Parking of Clearwater, Florida:Why throw away your life so recklessly?
Hoboken Prime: That's a question you should ask yourself, Robotic Parking of Clearwater, Florida.

[ShibbOleth]

Car owner: Open the car park door, HAL!
HAL: I'm afraid I can't do that, Steve.

[5que]

Humm. I worked for a consulting company once that did something similar -- had a timer in the software that shut it down after 6 months because they didn't get paid. From what I remember, we got sued big-time for interruption of business and because there was nothing in the contract to allow for this "remedy."

[pinkfreud]

Hmmm. Isn't Clearwater, Florida where the Scientologists have their headquarters?

[AskNott]

Originally Posted by pinkfreud

Hmmm. Isn't Clearwater, Florida where the Scientologists have their headquarters?

Yes, it is. Robotic Parking, indeed!

[ladybug]

Originally Posted by Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor

A Transformers reference on the second post. This is why I love the SDMB!

[pinkfreud]

Originally Posted by pinkfreud

Hmmm. Isn't Clearwater, Florida where the Scientologists have their headquarters?

I hate it when I park my car, and when I come to pick it up, there's an E-meter where the gas gauge used to be.

[ShibbOleth]

Originally Posted by pinkfreud

Hmmm. Isn't Clearwater, Florida where the Scientologists have their headquarters?

It's also where the Hooter's restaurant chain is from. Strange bedfellows, indeed.