I agree with Chuck. But the so-called explosion in telecommuting that was supposed to happen in the 90s, and then the 00s, didn't. The problem isn't presence or absence of telepresence robots, or even the communication issues. I think much of it is managers not feeling in control over their employees.
I agree, Cabe. Sometimes I think we need to stop and ask ourselves what our goals are. Is the ultimate goal of technology to improve life - or to make money? We need to find a balance because obviously R&D requires cash flow and hard work and risk deserves to reap the benefits, but if we lose sight of our humanity in the process, than we haven't gained anything.
I don't think enough money is being spent in the area of technology for the disabled. When companies like Apple have $100 billion in surplus cash and spend zero in this area, I am disappointed even further.
I just don't see them as being cost-effective. Working from home with teleconferencing capabilities is so much cheaper and I don't see what you gain from a robotic presence that you wouldn't have with a multimedia one. BUT I LOVED the application for Devon - the boy who couldn't attend school because of his allergies that would cause his personal attendance to be life-threatening. Now THAT is a worthwhile application!
Another relevant issue is the effect on urban expressways. Traffic on big city expressways is growing fast. Telepresence could also have an effect there. At some point in the next 20 years, I think it's going to be a necessity in some quarters.
Charles, I agree. I like the concept of using this technology for the benefit of reducing corporate overhead and personally saving money on commuting. Good way to add dollars back to the paycheck. If telepresence can be used in Distance Education, seems like a win for Work at Home Employees. Nice article Cabe!
If we as a society are really concerned about oil consumption, your idea seems very logical, Ken E. Imagine how much fuel would be saved by keeping half the work force at home and imagine how emissions would be reduced.
If you divide $16,000 by 52 (weeks per year) then 40 (hours per week) you get a number superisingly close to the current minimum wage rate. I actually like this idea. We can replace all the middle managers who really don't know much with minimum wage robots that probably have about the same knowledge. On the other hand why not just replace them (the middle managers) with ex fast food french friers.
You can still be in your pajamas, you just need to dress from the shoulders up! Remember to blank the screen when you walk away for a cup of coffee.
I have a distant commute, but as a plant engineer often have to 'run down to the shop' to see what's what, or measure things. Someday they'll be able to not only picture, but create 3D models depending on what they see. Although I'll always have to be there some, I could see this reducing my need to be there in person in the future.
Was interesting to see the 'bot in a school setting. I wonder, was that the teacher, or a student? The end of classrooms is already on it's way, especially at high level institutions, no mobility required.
A new battery design, which replaces lithium with abundant and low-cost elemental sulfur, is still in its nascent stages but shows real promise for giving batteries more energy potential.
The push to achieving more intelligent, integrated manufacturing is putting a strong focus on networking and connectivity as key enabling technologies.
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Surveillance, reconnaissance, and search and rescue in military and first responder situations are popular applications for aerial robots. Yet not all the robots are considered unmanned aerial vehicles.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 5
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
For industrial control applications, or even a simple assembly line, that machine can go almost 24/7 without a break. But what happens when the task is a little more complex? That’s where the “smart” machine would come in. The smart machine is one that has some simple (or complex in some cases) processing capability to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Such machines are suited for a host of applications, including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, computers and electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods, and so on. This radio show will show what’s possible with smart machines, and what tradeoffs need to be made to implement such a solution.
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