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Telepresence is likely the first killer app for robotics. It's been possible for quite some time now but very difficult to do well. The ubiquity of good, low-p
by noonespecial 13y ago
Telepresence is likely the first killer app for robotics. It's been possible for quite some time now but very difficult to do well.
The ubiquity of good, low-power wireless networking was the holdup. Our phones and tablets have finally brought this about.
First the robots appear as a toy to watch your pets from work, then you personal assistant pops in twice a day from India/Africa/(low wage outsource of the moment), and finally Siri rolls around your house picking up your socks (and informing the NSA if your feet smell at all terrorist-like).
Welcoming robot overlords and all that 20th century slashdot yap...
- bliti 13y agoTelepresence might start breaking into manufacturing by allowing one worker control of multiple robots at once from a remote location. I've seen prototypes of this already, but nothing solid. Maybe the costs are still too high.
- noonespecial 13y agoWorkers are still exceptionally cheap. I'd sooner expect to see it used to bring a worker from Bangladesh to a factory in Germany. It would multiplex the opposite direction: many "cheap" workers rotating to keep a single robot working 24/7 in an "expensive" country.