VGo Robotic Telepresence

   Have you ever met anyone who was too sick to go to school or work for long periods of time?   I have.  I had a student a few years ago, whom I will call Tom, that had Muscular Dystrophy. Tom was diagnosed at a very young age but was determined to go to school like any other young boy.  Smart too!  Tom was a great student.  I watched Tom grow up from his elementary years, through middle school and then on into high school all the while watching his condition deteriorate.  By the time he got to high school he was confined to a wheel chair but still had use of his arms, hands and his mind was a sound as ever.  As he progressed through the year, Tom continued to deteriorate. He started to loose  function of his hands so writing became very difficult.  We were looking for devices that  could help him keep up with his schooling.  With an impending surgery his parents decided to keep him home because of the long recovery process.  Tom went on home-bound status and had a teacher visit with him throughout the week.  But Tom lost most social contact with his peers.

   What would have been a great tool for Tom was a VGo Robotic Telepresence device.  This robot takes the physical place of a student who is present through video conferencing using the robot.  The student at home controls the robots movements through their computer.  The webcam on their computer projects their real time image on the screen of the robot so the student can interact with peers and teachers.  This allows learning and socialization in real time for the affected student.  What a great way for students who are at home due to a immune deficiency, illness, or recovering from surgery to stay up to date with school.  I love this product!  Watch this video of VGo in action.

Cost

   The cost of the VGo is not all that bad in my opinion.  Below is pricing from the VGo website.  And according to what I found while researching this there are numerous grants available for schools to apply for.  

The E-1000 is for schools and special home applications and starts at $3995.  Included are:

• FREE SHIPPING
• VGo Robot with WiFi 
• VGoNet Manager – web based robot and user management administration software
• Standard Battery (6hr)
• US Power Cord
• 20 VGo App licenses
• 1 year hardware warranty – return to factory
• Phone and email Help desk support
• Re-usable shipping box

There are some optional accessories that can be added on.  You can see full pricing at http://www.vgocom.com/how-much-does-vgo-cost.  

Accessibility for schools

   The accessibility for schools should be fairly minimal.  Schools are already equipped to handle other types of disabilities.  Access to classrooms should be available with no issue.  The robot does not take up anymore room than a traditional student.  The one thing I can think of that would be different is that there would need to be one person designated to store the robot during non school hours ensuring that it was recharged and ready to go the next day.