Have you heard of the word telepresence? It is the word being used to describe a person who is using a remote device to be in another location. Basically, it is usually a robot controlled remotely from a station with a camera and an Ipad like device that projects your face in the same way that Skype does face to face phone calls. It has both advantages and disadvantages, but is a growing trend.
Helps the sick: It is helping some people who are sick or have a medical condition that prevents them from leaving their home. This includes children who must go to school but can't. What this technology has done is allow such children to go to school via the robot. They sit at the control station at home and control the robot at school. The camera allows the student to take notes by looking through the camera, and even take a snap shot if they want to keep an image from the board or to help them take notes. It may also record lectures if needed for later play back. In addition, a student may even raise their hand via a light so they can participate while a micro phone allows them to ask questions directly rather than having the teacher or their fellow students have to read off a screen to interact with the person operating the device. It has been tested in a few classrooms and it has been shown that students interact with the robot in the same way they would if the operator was there in person thanks to these features.
Doctors Use it: Some doctors have taken to using it in hospitals to make their rounds with patients. It works the exact same way as the prior example, but in this case the doctor can use his/her office as a command center and get other work done while the robot transitions from patient to patient. In fact, some military doctors in the
Via Skype: Still more people are using it to aid people. Some vets and doctors use it as an over the phone, but face to face advise system. People with medical questions can call these doctors to ask for advice on medication, and treatment. However, some have been prevented from sharing their knowledge due to licensing which stipulates that a practicing doctor can only give such device if they see the individual or patient in person.
Other possibilities: At the office, bosses can use the system in the same way a doctor does, by going to his or her staff to check on the progress of a project rather than disrupt work that they themselves are doing. It allows for a face to face, without getting in someone’s face. Possibilities include workers who are inspecting hazardous work sites can use a robot to check a site with specialized equipment to spot for potential problems first. It may let more people work from home, for it allows people to show that they are doing work in the office (which is hard to demonstrate while working at home). Parents may even use other versions of this tech to keep an eye on their kids, to be literally the angel on their shoulder.
The problem: While this tech has great advantages, it has one flaw. That flaw is the human element. By not interacting with a person via proximity, or even touch, it hinders a person’s ability to socially interact. That is currently the only real criticism. Probably the biggest example is with doctors as the robot used can become a force multiplier, the doctor still has to go in and examine the patient more thoroughly to make any proper diagnosis. So it can replace routine interactions, but not the more intimate ones that are required to be truly human.
Conclusion: I support this great technology, for it has major applications. It can allow a brain surgeon in
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