If I would have tried to write this article 10 years ago, I would have thought I was completely insane. I can barely believe I can get away with writing it now. Remember in the old cartoons like the Jetsons where in the classroom scenes, some of the teachers and students were robots? Well guess what… The robots are finally taking over! Maybe I’m exaggerating slightly but what I want to talk a little bit about is robotic telepresence in education. You can literally now send a robot to class as your proxy. The robots have a screen where the person appears via video and the entire device is control through an app.

Check out this video of a young boy who was sick at home but still able to attend class through a robot proxy.

From what I can tell, this occurrence is more prominent in primary education but why not expand? There are many reasons why higher education could benefit by including robotic telepresence as a service to students, faculty and staff.

Benefits to University
-Expand the faculty. Professors from all over the world could instruct classes and interact with the students.
-Expand the student body. Students who were unable to attend classes for various reasons can now attend.

Benefits to Faculty
-More guest lecturers. Lecturers would be able to connect with the robot via app to join the class.
-Telecasting. Professors could be teaching a class in person and appearing in another class simultaneously via robotic telepresence.

Benefits to Students
-Disabled students would be able to attend class
-Study Abroad students would be able to continue to take classes while away
-Students who have out-of-town work assignments will not have to miss class

So in closing, buy a robot! You can do that now. WOW. Send it to class while you are on your 3 month vacation in Aruba (<-- Well, that is what I would do but I doubt it would be that easy.) In the mean time, lobby for a robot! They have a lot of educational benefits. Plus I, for one, can't wait to see robots strolling around the plaza during lunch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzzZkkiJMv8