One of the challenges to writing for this blog isn’t trying to find content, it’s trying to figure out which fields of technology to follow. Oh I have my favorites of course, computer graphics, computer technology in general, and online content but there are some other that could significantly affect the classroom.
For example, here is a story of a telepresence avatar that sits on your shoulder.
Imagine how this could be used? Let’s say you are teaching a class on NASA. Let’s also say that there is a little telepresence robot on an astronauts shoulder on the space station. Using a classroom projector you could literally see things from the astronauts point of view.
If you decouple the robot from a person and make it mobile, you could operate it from around the world. What do you want to visit today? How about a robot underwater? On a mountain? At the coliseumin Rome?
This is different from simulation (which is also really great for the classroom) as this is a real experience.
The technology to do this is pretty much here now. The US military flying drones in Afganistan and Iraq that are operated by a person in Nevada.
Here’s one you can try: University of Richmond Webcam. You can even more the camera around! This one is stationary of course, but you can see the potential.
It’s an amazing future coming our way.
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Telepresence robot
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Created by researchers from Keio University in Japan, the little bot has a camera and mic so far away friends can see and hear what you do, while a directional speaker keeps your conversations private. Communication’s courtesy of Skype, while some custom code lets users control the device’s six-axis articulating head.
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Education Stormfront 
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