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See the 'Virtual Assistant' in action (Video)

The Virtual Assistant deployed at Duane Reade in New York had a predecessor at a UK airport. See her greet passengers here.

July 7, 2011 by Christopher Hall

Stories about the Tensator Virtual Assistant in the new flagship Duane Reade store in New York peppered the Internet in recent days. Shoppers entering the drugstore will now be greeted by the "Virtual Assistant," a holographic projection digitalsignage deployment displaying the image of a real person greeting shoppers.

But while this is its first retail deployment, the Virtual Assistant has been around the block a couple of times already, helping airline passengers remember to take off their belts and discard liquids before going through security.

Lawrence, a Tensator Group Co., created the Tensator Virtual Assistant, which has previously been employed at London Luton and Birmingham airports in the U.K. For its retail debut at Duane Reade, the virtual assistant was completely customized to feature a female greeter that informs customers about special items and promotions throughout the store.

"Our Virtual Greeter is an essential part of the 'wow factor' we have built into our newest store and serves as ambassador of the new Duane Reade experience," Duane Reade senior VP merchandising and CMO Paul Tiberio said in a press release about the debut.

Watch a video of the Tensator Virtual Assistant in action at the London Luton Airport below: