Saturday, February 5, 2011

Robot goes to school

A high-school boy, named Lyndon Baty has polycystic kidney disease, leaving him with "virtually no immune system". Because of his condition, he has been unable to have contact with his friends, or attend his classes for over a year. Well, that has all changed for him now... kind of. Now Lyndon can virtually attend classes and walk the halls with his classmates, through the screen of his robotic avatar on wheels. The robot attends his classes, and Lyndon gets to feel like he is there too. According to the NBC report:

"The technology, which works like video conferencing, allows him to attend class, visit the school canteen, and even hang around the yard.
It is the first time the machine has been used in a school - and it has given Lyndon, from Knox City, a new lease of life. His mother Sheri told local NBC news station KFDX: 'He has a reason to get up. He takes his medicine, eats, and he's sitting and waiting for that (school) bell to ring.''It's absolutely amazing,' Lyndon added. 'I would have never thought when I was sick that I would ever have any interaction, much less this kind. It is just like I am there in the classroom.'"

Pretty awesome, if you ask me. Be honest, if given the chance, wouldn't you just like to sit at home once in a while, and send your robot-avatar to work. It would certainly be easier than pretending to pay attention during boring staff meetings!

3 comments:

  1. I would like a robot to do my laundry,clean the house and pay my bills. Oh wait! That is me- the mombot.

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  2. If I could have, I would have sent a robot to school in my stead every day...for that matter, I would send him to work for me now...

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