Presentation to BCNet 2015 conference in Vancouver on video conferencing via telepresence robot. I introduce the concept of cyber proxy and need for policy to increase access and equity for learners.

1. Video Conferencing Via Robot: Needs and
Implications of Access by Cyber Proxy
Valerie Irvine | Rich McCue
@_valeriei | @richmccue
UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA TIE RESEARCH LAB Flickr@wwward0 CCBYND2.0

2. Multi-Access: A Brief Overview

3. vGo Video Conference Robot
More about the robot in a minute...

5. http://www.doublerobotics.com/ https://revolverobotics.com/ http://www.vgocom.com/
Kubi
vGoDouble

6. http://today.law.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/06_cluster_dsc_7732_inside.jpg

7. Copyright John Bell UMichigan

8. Physical
Flickr@faultlesspajamo CCBYNCSA2.0

9. Remote or Rural
Flickr@Michel-Yves CCBYND2.0

10. Special Needs / Anxiety
Flickr@gregous CCBYNCND2.0

11. Time
Flickr@darrentunniclif CCBYNCND2.0

12. And probably THE biggest
obstacle…

13. Ego Accessibility
Flickr@mariaplus32005 CCBYNCND2.0

14. Control

15. FACE TO FACE ONLINEOR

16. FACE TO FACE ONLINE*AND*

17. F2F ONLINEMULTI-ACCESS

18. DO I HAVE TO GO TO
SCHOOL?
YOURFlickr@booleansplit CCBYNC2.0

19. ● Need for Equity Among Access
● Avoid Preferential Treatment
● Policy on Cyber Proxy

23. Use Cases for Video Conference Robots

24. https://www.flickr.com/photos/anitasarkeesian/3903166130/
Professors ≠ Tech Support Specialists
YOU FOOL!
YOU POOR
FOOL!
DID YOU
MESS
WITH IT?
DON’T MESS
WITH IT!

25. Support for Eduroam & Cisco Infrastructure

26. Excellent Tech Support from vGo

27. he Business Case for Video Conference Robo
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Analyzing_Financial_Data_(5099605

28. 7 Instructors Perspectives on
Multi-Access Video
Conference Robots...

29. “If you had asked me that question two years ago
I would have balked. [Using a VC robot] would be
exciting and challenging. It’s about what we’re
doing, not about the technology. I’d love to see
that in action.
Again I see that as superior to what we’ve
experienced [with BlueJeans], the fact that they
can turn the camera and talk. That more
replicates what we’re trying do in the room.”

30. “I think in that case where I have one student
coming in or two or three; a small number of
students relative to the number of students in
my class this would be great. Perfect actually,
because you could go out in the hall and work
in a group.”

31. “The robot to me is an interesting idea. Part of
my thinking is thinking about who are we, so it’s
ontological but what essence or what physicality
is different to me. It wouldn’t bother me, if I
had 10 of those it still wouldn’t bother me, it’s
just another way of being.”

32. “I can just teach normally to them and to them
the same way as this face-to-face student. I
don’t see that being an issue. ”
“Wonderful. I have students all the time who are
sick who skype in. They have to find a friend to
skype them in, but that would be great.”
“I would love to try it as a student. I would love
to try it as a teacher. As long as I have no
responsibility for moving their screens around.”

33. Destination in Place and Space

34. ● Slides at http://slideshare.net/virvine
● Follow us at @_valeriei @richmccue
● Email: virvine@uvic.ca
Questions / Comments?