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The article is from the following link: http://www.readwriteweb.com/biz/2011/06/telepresence-robots-future-of-going-to-the-office.php#more.
Although a shorter article, this article has many implications for technology, the classroom, and beyond. The article is about how the web has changed the way we work and how people have the ability now to work from their home. Websites offer the ability to have teleconferences and work with colleagues half-way around the world. However, the article notes that the physical presence lacking from the person half-way around the world changes the aura of the meeting.
Now a company is working on designing a robot that will contain the image of the person remoting in and will occupy an actual physical presence at the meeting. The robots, it is predicted, will cost around $15,000.
This is very interesting. Our ability to communicate in real time half-way across the globe is amazing. Having the ability to teleconference with colleagues is an advantageous aspect of the internet. As a teacher, I have not yet taken advantage of the telecommunicating with other groups. I know that I should be doing that, but I just haven't had the time yet to begin the actual process.
With the invention of the robot acting like a physical presence, this has many interesting points. First, it allows for an actual physical presence and that changes the dynamic of the meeting (or the classroom). The fear here is that in the future, will one person be teaching multiple classrooms and beaming the lesson in through the robot? Will robots end up being in control of the classroom? Will students be able to lie in bed and telecommunicate to digital schools? I can see all of these happening within decades. Is this a good thing? I'm not exactly sure. There is no doubt that technology has made a positive impact on the way we teach and communicate. However, robots taking place of humans being is something that this new generation will have to deal with. It will be interesting to see what the future holds. The stuff of science fiction movies is fast approaching...
Titlow, John P. "Are Telepresence Robots the Future of Going to the Office?" 24 June 2011. Web, ReadWriteWeb. 26 June 2011. <http://www.readwriteweb.com/biz/2011/06/telepresence-robots-future-of-going-to-the-office.php#more>.
Ahh, call me old fashioned at the ripe old age of 28, but this idea is scary to me! All I can think of is the Will Smith movie "I Robot!" I think using it to have a meeting on the other side of the world is one thing but using it to "digitally" attend school sounds like a bad idea to me. I think there is a lot to be learned from our social interactions and relationships we build at school. When I say "we" I mean both the teachers and the students. I feel like if we digitally attend every event we need to attend our sympathy, empathy and all those other emotions important to human interactions and respect will atrophy! Oh goodness, I can only hope for the best. On the bright side, I guess if my students are digtially attend maybe I can finally use a mute button!
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