I just came across this article on TheRecord about a robot called IvanAnywhere:
Meet IvanAnywhere:
It’s the next best thing to being there; He’ll write software, attend meetings and even chat with co-workers. Just don’t expect this digital marvel to share a cup of coffee during your next break
But the interesting part was this:
But in the three months since IvanAnywhere first went online, he has become such a normal part of the third floor at iAnywhere that co-workers barely even notice they’re talking to a machine rather than to Bowman’s human form.
“We are all so used to Ivan, they don’t even give it a second thought,” says Glenn Paulley, Bowman’s boss and the originator of the IvanAnywhere idea.
When Bowman has a question for a colleague, he doesn’t pick up the phone; he uses his joystick to drive his doppelganger to the team member’s office.
If Paulley needs Bowman’s time on a software issue, he calls IvanAnywhere to his office, just as he would with any other employee.
It’s an interesting idea to help bridge the gap between local and remote employees. Cool stuff (and probably somewhat bandwidth intensive)