What are Telepresence Robots?
“Most telepresence robots combine a mobile base with a small screen placed roughly at the height of a person—think of a tablet computer atop a mop handle anchored to a rolling platform” (EDUCAUSE, 2013).
“Network connections for the device are handled through standard Wi-Fi. The screen displays a person who is connected remotely by two-way audio and video, and that person can control the movement of the robot” (EDUCAUSE, 2013).
“The result is not unlike a videoconference but with the added dimensions of height (the face is at head height) and mobility (remote users can move the robot as if they were physically present)” (EDUCAUSE, 2013).
These robots are not examples of artificial intelligence (AI) where a robot has a “mind” of its own and is designed to help accomplish tasks for humans. Instead these robots are strictly controlled by a user remotely in order to represent themselves in a meeting for example they were not able to physically attend.
So why bother with these not so smart robots?
“Telepresence robots are part of a rapidly evolving area of technology that pushes the limits of how technology can augment or stand in for humans” (EDUCAUSE, 2013).
“People report that these devices closely resemble interacting with the remote individual. The robots allow students and instructors who join from afar to move from a passive role to more active participation. Because they control what they see and where they are, they can move among study groups, examine items, and point out things missed by others” (EDUCAUSE, 2013).
“While the technology offers remote presence to anyone, it can be especially valuable in assistive use, connecting those with limited mobility with the wider community and promoting social interaction” (EDUCAUSE, 2013).
“Network connections for the device are handled through standard Wi-Fi. The screen displays a person who is connected remotely by two-way audio and video, and that person can control the movement of the robot” (EDUCAUSE, 2013).
“The result is not unlike a videoconference but with the added dimensions of height (the face is at head height) and mobility (remote users can move the robot as if they were physically present)” (EDUCAUSE, 2013).
These robots are not examples of artificial intelligence (AI) where a robot has a “mind” of its own and is designed to help accomplish tasks for humans. Instead these robots are strictly controlled by a user remotely in order to represent themselves in a meeting for example they were not able to physically attend.
So why bother with these not so smart robots?
“Telepresence robots are part of a rapidly evolving area of technology that pushes the limits of how technology can augment or stand in for humans” (EDUCAUSE, 2013).
“People report that these devices closely resemble interacting with the remote individual. The robots allow students and instructors who join from afar to move from a passive role to more active participation. Because they control what they see and where they are, they can move among study groups, examine items, and point out things missed by others” (EDUCAUSE, 2013).
“While the technology offers remote presence to anyone, it can be especially valuable in assistive use, connecting those with limited mobility with the wider community and promoting social interaction” (EDUCAUSE, 2013).
Now that we’ve gotten a primer telepresence robots, let’s dig deeper on how they are currently being used in a variety of fields. Click on "How are they used?" below.
References
EDUCAUSE. (2013, December 9). 7 things you should know about Telepresence robots. Retrieved November 18, 2016, from
https://library.educause.edu/resources/2013/12/7-things-you-should-know-about-telepresence-robots.
Edward Snowden Image: Retrieved from https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/15/snowden-we-rely-too-much-on-facebook-for-news.
Meet VGo Image: Retrieved from http://telepresencerobots.com/sites/default/files/remote-presence-robot.jpg.