Current Applications of Telepresence
Telepresence in the Office
The visualizations provided by telepresence go beyond what video conferencing software can achieve in simulating human presence. Skim through the following video to see how hologram technology is changing virtual interactions.
The visualizations provided by telepresence go beyond what video conferencing software can achieve in simulating human presence. Skim through the following video to see how hologram technology is changing virtual interactions.
More realistic video conferencing is just one aspect of telepresence. Robots are beginning to replace the physical presence of employees. Watch the following video and respond to the questions below.
In the video, it is stated that “the staff were very accepting of this robot coming up to them. . . just another worker in the room.”
Do you think employees in your work environment would react similarly to such a robot?
Respond in the comments section below.
Do you think employees in your work environment would react similarly to such a robot?
Respond in the comments section below.
Doctors Can be Anywhere, Anytime
What if you did not have access to a qualified doctor? What if a telepresence robot enabled you to have a consultation with a specialist that would otherwise not be possible? The RP-VITA robot navigates hospital halls, using onboard sensors to avoid obstacles, arriving at its destination without the doctor’s input and enables off-site doctors to treat patients who are miles away.
This is not the first hospital to use telepresence technology. According to InTouch Health, their robots are in over 650 hospitals worldwide, enabling an average "5,000 remote clinical sessions per month" (Dorrier, 2012). However, this machine is a serious investment at 95,000 USD. That is a high cost when considering much of the the system’s capability can seemingly be duplicated by an iPad (499-829 USD) and a Double Robotics iPad robot (1,999 USD). Though as the technology evolves, doctors may be able to use telepresence robots to provide specialised procedures remotely.
Telepresence robots also offer an effective education solution in the medical field.
Explore and Learn from Anywhere
Telepresence systems can integrate live instruction and other interactive elements into distance learning environments. Telepresence is live video that allows for human-sized interactions, while offering clear sound and visual fidelity to individuals in remote rooms (Miller et al., 2015). Such technology enables synchronous learning for students without the physical presence of an instructor. Museums and galleries are also starting to integrate telepresence to enable virtual visitors to experience guided tours. At the National Museum of Australia, virtual visitors can control their own view, discover digital content, and respond to and ask questions. View the below video to see one of the robots in action. |
A telepresence classroom for distance learning.
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Telepresence robots enable anyone with a wifi connection to explore and learn about places around the world.
What other educational applications can you think of for telepresence robots?
Respond in the comments section below.
Now that you have articulated some thoughts on the uses of telepresence robots,
Click on the "What do you think?" button below.
Click on the "What do you think?" button below.