Living 'through' a robot

Post date: Apr 16, 2013 1:22:39 PM

In the spring of 2012, Grady Hofmann was told he needed a bone marrow transplant, and that afterwards he would be confined to a small isolation room in a hospital.

Friends of the family convinced a Silicon Valley firm to loan one of its telepresence robots. The robot, dubbed GradyBot by the family, was the patient's eyes and ears to the outside world for two months, taking part in pre-bedtime chat, visiting school, celebrating birthdays and even enduring the usual sibling torment. From his hospital bed, Grady could guide the robot around his home, seeing and hearing what the robot could see and hear. He could converse with members of his family and would have meals 'with them'. Watch the video HERE.