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spin

Wired had an article about this:

http://www.wired.com/2015/09/my-life-as-a-robot-double-robot...

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Nice..

Though if I would work in such office, personally it would be rather awkward and cringeworthy experience on either end.

And the video did not show any advantages against classic conference video call (it wasn't the goal of a video, but if there would've been more uses for it, then it would've shown in the video). You basically just can wander around the office in glorified RC vehicle, drive into the conference room and chat during a meeting.

They could do a T-800 shaped "remote manager" option...

The value of the robot is that everyone else doesn't need to be set up for video calls. We have a remote worker who uses one in my office periodically (actually two remote workers share it, but I rarely see the other person use it). He can roll into anyone's office and chat with them. I have a camera set up in my office specifically for video conferences, but most people do not. He can still conference with then in an ad hoc manner.

> I have a camera set up in my office specifically for video conferences, but most people do not.

Don't most laptops these days have an integrated camera?

And how do the other people in the room see the remote person? How easy it is to do that while making sure the camera catches everyone? How do you start the call, what software do you use? The robot sidesteps all of these.

My work laptop has one, yes, but it is closed and docked so I can use the two larger monitors on the desk. Ergo it is equivalent to not having a camera at all.

I work remote. Most video conferences are great, except when too many people are in the same office and start talking to each other. Then audio quality goes down, and you can't place a word in the discussion.

I couldn't imagine using one of those robot to participate in a discussion with 15 people in the same room, and being the only remotee.

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