Robotic Teleconferencing

Mike Elgan writes "Hewlett-Packard Labs unveiled to the press May 23 a system for teleconferencing with lifelike realism.Called the BiReality remote communication system, the project involves a remote-controlled robot on one end, and a total-immersion environment on the other, giving the user the ability to roam hallways, hold conversations and interact remotely through the robot."

Crashes fast!

[IO ERROR]

HP Fellow Norm Jouppi told HP World Magazine that the BiReality system prototype, now in its second version, is made with off-the-shelf parts, including two very fast Windows PCs, four cameras, a series of directional microphones and speakers.

This prototype will crash even faster than the previous prototype! It crashes very fast!

Which brings up another point. What if the robot is moving when Windows crashes? Will it STOP, or just display a STOP error while it keeps on rolling right into somebody?

doom?

[romit_icarus]

..total-immersion environment on the other, giving the user the ability to roam hallways, hold conversations and interact remotely through the robot. Am I the only one who is thinking Doom??

Sounds very handy

[SRCR]

This way I'll still be able to kick the other person in the groin even with teleconferencing.. This rulez

I'd like to have a doxen of these...

[jkrise]

And install them at the offices of His Billness, His Baldness, Rosen, Boies, etc. Only then will our computing experince become trustworthy.

One worry though:
"the BiReality system .. is made with..two very fast Windows PCs, four cameras, a series of directional microphones and speakers. "

I can't locate even 1 Very Fast Windows PC yet. I'd need 4 dozens here. Anyone seen such a PC yet? Windows95 on a P4 2.4GHz maybe?

Why does this remind me...

[Mossfoot]

... of that spiderlike mobile holoprojector used by Darth Sideous in The Phantom Menace?

Re:Roaming with stings attached?

[Esion Modnar]

stings attached

hehe. only for bosses with prickly personalities...

2 words

[Anonymous Coward]

Beedee beedee.......

If you combine telepresence robotics with

[mikeophile]

This [realdoll.com], I think it might be the killer application of home robotics.

Re:Why does this remind me...

[No Such Agency]

Probably because your sidious-like boss could use it to walk into your cubicle even when he's on a trip to Japan...

"Mmmmm, yeah. Mossfoot, I'm going to need you to come in Saturday. So if you could just go ahead and be here at nine, that'd be great. Beep beep."

Re:Will tomorrow...

[Bluesman]

Yeah, and you just KNOW your girlfriend's robot would look a lot better than the real thing.

When your robot is dating a "big boned, but attractive" robot, watch out.

But...

[Faust7]

a remote-controlled robot on one end,

I already teleconference with my boss.

Finally!!!

[WernerStormcrow]

At last, I can attend meetings while having another important session on the toilet. But maybe I'll wait for the enhanced model with rotating razor blades. Then, I can show my colleagues what I really think of their work. And the best part is: I can blame it on Windows (those damn Internet Explorer vulnerabilities can be VERY dangerous, you know).

A Bi Reality by any other name...

[PoisonousPhat]

Me and my dirty mind. I think HP, given the function and description of this project, should rename it to something other than "BiReality", unless they are pursuing a client base of alternative lifestyle teleconferencers.

Re:Crashes fast!

[Anonymous Coward]

The robot is a complex system with many contingency plans. In the event of a system crash it would revert to a simple "Kill all humans" routine until the system can be brought back online.

Ahhh... a dream of mine

[iamdrscience]

If I had access to this robot the _very first_ thing that I would do is make it kick out the jams and dance "the robot".

Oh ok

[The-Bus]

I had to RTFA. I was confused. I thought this had to do something with sending movies to Tom Servo and Crow.

Re:Tele (conferencing) your love...

[teqron]

Hooorrrrayyyyy No more herpes. Wont that make the world a better place.

New Spammers delivery mechanism

[rodney dill]

Now Spammers can deliver their message to you in person. (without fear of personal reprisal). Not to mention to opportunity to sell more slick advertising space on the "robots" exterior.


Our course I would reserve some space for my bumper sticker.

My Robot can Kick Your Robot's A$$

It's First Macro Virus

[raumdass]

"It's just strange Johnson, one minute we were discussing the quarterly financials, and the next thing you know, he starts breakdancing and shouting 'You've been 0wned'".