By Erica Schwiegershausen 8/09/12 9:30am

Metro Tech

LaGuardia Airport General Manager Tom Bosco introduces Terminal B's new customer service representative, Marie.

Meet Marie: LaGuardia Airport’s New Thumb-Twiddling Customer Service Avatar

Wednesday was the first day on the job for Marie, LaGuardia Airport’s newest customer service hire: a virtual avatar designed to answer questions and help guide visitors through the airport.

The round-faced, chestnut-haired young woman we saw before us was merely a video of a human woman–the Port Authority wouldn’t disclose the actress’s name–projected on Read More

By Jessica Roy 5/22/12 3:25pm

Tech and the City

No word yet on whether R2D2 will be needed in order for the holograms to function. (digitaltrends.com)

Holographic Customer Service Reps Will Bring a Bit of Star Wars to NYC Airports

If you thought the buzzy Tupac hologram was awesome, wait until you hear what the Port Authority plans to spend its money on: Starting this summer, three holographic customer service reps will begin work at JFK, Laguardia and Newark, supplementing the flesh-and-blood reps that are often overwhelmed by the magnitude of travelers that visit New York during the summer. Read More