Abstract
Modern lifestyles and teaching methods require constant improvement to adapt to changing conditions. A novel distance learning technology, telepresence robotics, is increasingly proposed as a solution for providing improved social presence for remote learning compared to the methods widely used during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. However, telepresence robots are often criticized for their sensitivity to wireless signal quality and connectivity issues, causing a distorted experience for users. In this paper, we analyse the technical challenges users face when using telepresence robots in higher education and compare these challenges with those reported when using teleconferencing software. The objective is to determine whether and how the technical shortcomings of telepresence robots differ from those encountered with commonly used software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. It appears that the range of criticism towards telepresence robots is indeed wider compared to teleconferencing software, but this is because telepresence robots are more functional. The movement controls of telepresence robots may feel handicapped, but Zoom and Teams do not have such controls at all. Further research is needed to understand in which teaching scenarios TPRs offer a better learning experience to students compared teleconferencing.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kreijns, K., Xu, K., Weidlich, J.: Social presence: conceptualization and measurement. Educ. Psychol. Rev. 34, 139–170 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-021-09623-8
Weibel, M., et al.: Back to school with telepresence robot technology: a qualitative pilot study about how telepresence robots help school-aged children and adolescents with cancer to remain socially and academically connected with their school classes during treatment. Nurs. Open 7(4), 988–997 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.471
Double Robotics Homepage. Online. Available: https://www.doublerobotics.com/. Accessed 11 Jan 2023.
OhmniLabs Homepage. Online. Available: https://ohmnilabs.com/. Accessed 11 Jan 2023
Roboteam Home Technology, Temi Robot. Online. Available: https://www.robotemi.com/. Accessed 11 Jan 2023
Conti, D., Di Nuovo, S., Buono, S., Di Nuovo, A.: Robots in education and care of children with developmental disabilities: a study on acceptance by experienced and future professionals. Int. J. Soc. Robot. 9(1), 51–62 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-016-0359-6
Kwon, O.H., Koo, S.Y., Kim, Y.G., Kwon, D.S.: Telepresence robot system for English tutoring. In: 2010 IEEE Workshop on Advanced Robotics and its Social Impacts, pp. 152–155. IEEE, Seoul (2010). https://doi.org/10.1109/ARSO.2010.5679999
Tsui, K.M., Desai, M., Yanco, H.A., Uhlik, C.: Exploring use cases for telepresence robots. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, pp. 11–18. ACM, Lausanne (2011). https://doi.org/10.1145/1957656.1957664
Tanaka, F.: Robotics for supporting childhood education. In: Sankai, Y., Suzuki, K., Hasegawa, Y. (eds.) Cybernics, pp. 185–195. Springer Japan, Tokyo (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54159-2_10
Tanaka, F., Takahashi, T., Matsuzoe, S., Tazawa, N., Morita, M.: Telepresence robot helps children in communicating with teachers who speak a different language. In: Proceedings of the 2014 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, pp. 399–406. ACM, Bielefeld (2014). https://doi.org/10.1145/2559636.2559654
Strecker, S., Kundisch, D., Lehner, F., Leimeister, J.M., Schubert, P.: Higher education and the opportunities and challenges of educational technology. Bus. Inf. Syst. Eng. 60(2), 181–189 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12599-018-0522-8
Kebritchi, M., Lipschuetz, A., Santiague, L.: Issues and challenges for teaching successful online courses in higher education: a literature review. J. Educ. Technol. Syst. 46(1), 4–29 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1177/0047239516661713
Njiku, J., Maniraho, J.F., Mutarutinya, V.: Understanding teachers’ attitude towards computer technology integration in education: a review of literature. Educ. Inf. Technol. 24(5), 3041–3052 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09917-z
Oxford Languages: Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press (2024). https://languages.oup.com/research/oxford-english-dictionary/
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D.G.: The PRISMA group: preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 6(7), e1000097 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097
Elad, B.: Video Conferencing Statistics By Usage, Productivity, Device Used, Places, Platform, Countries, Industries and Region. Online. Available: https://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/stats/video-conferencing-statistics.html. Accessed 19 May 2024
Zoom: Virtual Meeting Software. Online. Available: https://explore.zoom.us/en/products/meetings/. Accessed 23 Apr 2024
Google Meet Homepage. Online. Available: https://workspace.google.com/products/meet/. Accessed 17 May 2024
Microsoft Teams Homepage. Online. Available: https://teams.microsoft.com/edustart. Accessed 20 May 2024
Román, L., Brandl, B.: The Most Popular Video Call Conferencing Platforms Worldwide. Online. Available: https://www.emailtooltester.com/en/blog/video-conferencing-market-share/. Accessed 18 May 2024
Vailshery, L.S.: Market Share of Videoconferencing Software Worldwide in 2023, by Program. Online. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1331323/videoconferencing-market-share/. Accessed 19 May 2024
Braun, V., Clarke, V.: Thematic analysis. In: Cooper, H., Camic, P.M., Long, D.L., Panter, A.T., Rindskopf, D., Sher, K.J. (eds.) APA Handbook of Research Methods in Psychology, Vol. 2. Research Designs: Quantitative, Qualitative, Neuropsychological, and Biological, pp. 57–71. American Psychological Association, Washington (2012). https://doi.org/10.1037/13620-004
Yildiz, E.P.: Student opinions regarding Microsoft teams app used as an educational online learning environment during pandemic process. Int. J. Emerg. Technol. Adv. Eng. 11(5), 53–62 (2021). https://doi.org/10.46338/ijetae0521_07
Le, V.T., Nguyen, N.H., Tran, T.L.N., Nguyen, L.T., Nguyen, T.A., Nguyen, M.T.: The interaction patterns of pandemic-initiated online teaching: How teachers adapted. System 105, 102755 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2022.102755
Jalali, M., Moradi, V., Babaee, T., Aminian, G., Mojgani, P., Shahabi, S.: Online education for prosthetics and orthotics students in the era of COVID-19 pandemic in Iran: challenges, opportunities, and recommendations. BMC Med. Educ. 23(1), 342 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04339-5
Zhang, W., Wang, Y., Yang, L., Wang, C.: Suspending classes without stopping learning: China’s education emergency management policy in the COVID-19 outbreak. J. Risk Financ. Manag. 13(3), 55 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm13030055
Chick, R.C., et al.: Using technology to maintain the education of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. J. Surg. Educ. 77(4), 729–732 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2020.03.018
Salter, C., Oates, R.K., Swanson, C., Bourke, L.: Working remotely: innovative allied health placements in response to COVID-19. Int. J. Work Integr. Learn. 21(5), 587–600 (2020)
Hietanen, M., Svedholm-Häkkinen, A.M.: Transition to distance education in 2020 – challenges among university faculty in Sweden. Scand. J. Educ. Res. 67(3), 433–446 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2021.2021444
Häfner, P., et al.: Limits and benefits of using telepresence robots for educational purposes. In: Auer, M.E., Pachatz, W., Rüütmann, T. (eds.) Learning in the Age of Digital and Green Transition. ICL 2022. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol. 634, pp. 27–39. Springer, Cham (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26190-9_3
Lei, M., Clemente, I.M., Liu, H., Bell, J.: The acceptance of telepresence robots in higher education. Int. J. Soc. Robot. 14(4), 1025–1042 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-021-00837-y
Leoste, J., Virkus, S., Kasuk, T., Talisainen, A., Kangur, K., Tolmos, P.: Aspects of using telepresence robot in a higher education STEAM workshop. In: Pardede, E., Delir Haghighi, P., Khalil, I., Kotsis, G. (eds.) Information Integration and Web Intelligence. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 13635, pp. 18–28. Springer Nature Switzerland, Cham (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21047-1_2
Fitter, N.T., Raghunath, N., Cha, E., Sanchez, C.A., Takayama, L., Mataric, M.J.: Are we there yet? Comparing remote learning technologies in the university classroom. IEEE Robot. Autom. Lett. 5(2), 2706–2713 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1109/LRA.2020.2970939
Beam Telepresence Robot. Online. Available: https://telepresencerobots.com/robots/suitable-technologies-beam/. Accessed 18 May 2024
Rueben, M., Groechel, T., Zhang, Y., Matarić, M.J., Ragusa, G.: Increasing telepresence robot operator awareness of speaking volume appropriateness: initial model development. In: Companion of the 2020 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, pp. 421–423. ACM, Cambridge (2020). https://doi.org/10.1145/3371382.3378388
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Talisainen, A., Leoste, J., Virkus, S. (2024). Exploring Challenges in Remote Communication: Comparing Teleconferencing Software and Telepresence Robots Usage in Higher Education. In: Arai, K. (eds) Proceedings of the Future Technologies Conference (FTC) 2024, Volume 2. FTC 2024. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 1155. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-73122-8_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-73122-8_18
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-73121-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-73122-8
eBook Packages: Intelligent Technologies and RoboticsIntelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)