If you're a fan of "The Big Bang Theory" (and if you aren't, why not??) you might recall the episode where the genius, Sheldon, decides that the real world is too dangerous for humans. If he can live long enough to fuse his consciousness with a robot (a personal goal), he has to find a safe way to interact with the world.
To the amazement of his friends, he constructs a remote control device that can transport a computer screen and webcam. From the relative safety of his bedroom, he is able to talk to, and annoy, his friends and co-workers. Of course, things like turning doorknobs became a challenge, but he becomes happy with his new method of telecommuting.
In the episode, he explained the setup to his friends this way:
"I am a mobile virtual presence device. Recent events have demonstrated to me that my body is too fragile to endure the vicissitudes of the world. Until such time as I am able to transfer my consciousness, I shall remain in a secure location and interact with the world in this manner."
In the end, Sheldon learns that even if he remains in the relative safety of his room, and only eats leafy green vegetables, he still has to deal with the complications and problems of the world. Not only does the "Sheldon-bot" fail to protect him in the way he wants, but also to provide real-world interaction with his friends.
Although the show seems to be based on a far-fetched idea, telecommuting is a reality for many people, especially those who work in the tech industry. However, one of the difficulties of working from home is that you miss the actual, real-time interaction with your co-workers. It can be hard for them to remember who you are and that you work there. Which means that team projects and other collaborative efforts suffer.
It doesn't have to be that way. One of the main goals of technology is to solve needs. For the busy telecommuter, the new telecommuting robot is one step closer to allowing people who work from home to have a virtual presence at the office or at school.
According to a recent report from io9, telecommuting robots are the future of the workplace. Although they still have a long way to go before they will be ready for the mainstream, these devices allow people to work from home while still being able to interact with others. The most promising robot is the QB-82, which is being developed by Anybots, Inc. The device is a little scary-looking, but the goal is to get employees and employers comfortable with the idea of a virtual, robotic presence.
In fact, The Wall Street Journal ran a piece that chronicled Rachel Emma Silverman's time working as a robot. In order to research her article, she used one of these robots to go to work. She used the QB-82, which is basically a skinny robot on wheels with a screen in the general area that her face would have been. Along with a webcam, she used the robot to navigate her way around the office and was able to see, hear and communicate with her co-workers. Although she did run into a few problems, she said that the robotic device helped her to feel closer to her colleagues, even when she wasn't physically in the office.
She's not the only one who has decided to give the robot a try. In fact, a first grader who suffers from severe allergies is using a robot to attend school. The boy, named Devon, has allergies to almost all types of food as well as environmental issues. He had been homeschooled, but his parents searched for ways to help him feel like a regular kid in the classroom. After a talking with the school system, his parents and teachers all agreed that he could use a Vgo robot to telecommute to the classroom.
It was interesting to see what the other students would make of the robot, but after trying it for a while, his teachers had this to say about it:
"Devon actively participates in his classes, jokes with classmates, "walks" through school hallways on the way to check books out of the library and participates on stage in leadership assemblies at the school. The only two things Devon doesn't currently do with his classmates are gym and lunch.
Brachmann said the wireless connection in the cafeteria is limited but school officials hope to remedy that and invite Devon to lunch for additional socialization.
Still, through the eyes of Devon's classmates, he's one of them, according to Winchester educators. That was silently proven last spring, when his first-grade class made Devon some "get-well" artwork after a nearly fatal allergic reaction again landed him in Women & Children's ICU.
"They drew a picture of a boy," said Brachmann, explaining the class identified with Devon as a person and not as the VGo machine."
It's clear that this technology still has a way to go before it will become an office staple. Currently, there is a new toy that more closely resembles Sheldon's virtual presence, created by Taptic Toys. For those who don't like robots, there is even a holographic employee option in the works that will allow telecommuters to beam their hologram (a la Jem) right into the office.
Would you want to be a telecommuting robot? Why or why not? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Image source: CBS (The Big Bang Theory)
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