This robot is called "snow"-Lord Snowdon, Beam, robot video-IT news This robot is called "snow"

Abstract: in Moscow, Lord Snowdon, only needs the help of a computer, you can start the video robot, using it's own wheels at the ACLU Office in the shuttle.

Since a year ago after becoming a well-known person, aidehua·sinuodeng (Edward Snowden) has become a reality version of "Super Max" (Max Headroom), only by way of on-screen appearances, from Hong Kong, China or Russia to spread the news of the world. But Telepresence (telepresence) with the help of robots, appear on the screen it has no longer has faced so many limitations.

Telepresence technology

According to the United States Civil Liberties Union (hereinafter "ACLU"), bar Ben·weizena (Ben Wizner) disclosed that for at least the past 3 months, Lord Snowdon and his supporters have been trying to a telepresence system called Beam Pro. It consists of a screen and a camera that can access WiFi networks, and can be wheeled activities, facilitate snow started communicating with the personnel office of the ACLU in New York.

In Moscow, Lord Snowdon, only needs the help of a computer, you can start the video robot, using it's own wheels at the ACLU Office in the shuttle. Lord Snowdon's supporters hope that Beam systems may be a first for the far away "Prism" reveals, with colleagues around the world can share a room any time machine. Which can be solved to some extent that he in the United States face the Espionage Act charges, while he himself can always stay in the relative safety of Russia.

"He walked up and down in the hallway, generous to many ACLU staff interaction. "Wiesener said," I think that for people in exile, is a profound thing. ”

Appeared in TED speech

As early as March this year before his TED speech, Snowdon Beam robots are already present in the Office of the ACLU. He passed the $ 16,000 worth of machine delivered a famous speech to the TED stage. Wiesener said that TED's organizers hope to begin tests in New York, a robot, and then use it to Vancouver for a meeting.

"They had two machines at the Office and provides us with a login account. "Wiesener said," we have found works well. ”

Snow through the arrow keys on the computer keyboard, with approximately 3 km per hour speed driving the system remotely. This product need to rely on battery-powered, rechargeable battery life 8 hours at a time, and charger alone is worth $ 950. In addition, it also features a "party mode", you can activate a more environmental microphone, and can automatically increase the speaker volume.

Since he first appeared on the TED, Lord Snowdon's Beam is particularly striking, Germany, the daily mirror newspaper report on Wednesday once again make it the focus of attention of many people. However, while the daily mirror said, Snowden is regularly using a Beam system, but Wiesener was revealed, "Edgar robot" only occasionally appeared in the Office of the ACLU.

On one occasion, Executive Director of the non-profit organisation andongni·luomeiluo (Anthony Romero) with Edgar snow visited in the building in a circle. There is still time, Wiesener when communicating with Snowden ran out to pick up a phone call. When he came back, found snow already drove the robot into the ACLU lawyer zhanmier·gufo (Jameel Jaffer) Office, discussions with the United States Article No. 702 of the contents of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. "This is so cool. "Wiesener said.

Teleifo·dimu, Director of the nonprofit freedom of the press Foundation (Trevor Timm) also said in front of the TED lecture, Lord Snowdon has been interested in trying the Telepresence robots. "He said to people for some time before, this will be a revolutionary technology. "Tim said," I think, in front of the physical, I'm afraid not many people believed him. Just need someone to help him open the door, he can do what he pleases. ”

Advantages and disadvantages of

Tim this robot met with Lord Snowdon, in April this year, the participants also include journalists, as well as the snow documentary filmmakers LaOla·boyitelasi (Laura Poitras). "The light, he appeared on the screen. "Tim described," when he came to us, everyone was surprised. ”

Similar scenes have been on Twitter a lot of jokes about the means. “咘... Bu ... I believe in transparency. "A group called" robot snow "accounts wrote. Devoted to "Prism" incident reporter Glenn Greenwald (Glenn Greenwald) said the robot, he would like to see appear on United States National Security Agency (hereinafter "NSA") in the parking lot.

Even if it was just a joke, but Tim and the Wiesener said, they really do want to Beam to another place to facilitate snow more face-to-face interaction with people, such as press freedom Foundation office in San Francisco and the University of Glasgow in Scotland – Lord Snowdon was elected in February on the school's "student President." "I hope one day to have a large number of robots appear. "Tim said.

Lord Snowdon, use the Telepresence robot safety – perhaps the biggest drawback is that the former intelligence officers will spare no effort to take various measures to avoid his communications were monitored. Beam using standard TLS and AES 256 bit encryption technology. Code of the company network administrator warned that the company's infrastructure to establish trusted relationships between device and pilot station. Therefore, once the infrastructure has been compromised, it is possible to launch "man in the Middle" attack.

In other words, by means of appropriate hacker, listeners could hear the robot heard everything, see everything it sees, and you know it's "words and deeds". This may restrict snow on the technology used, cause he is only willing to open to the public using the pattern dialog.

As the robot's developers, Suitable Technologies company headquartered in paluoaoertuo seem to be openly supported Lord Snowdon also have reservations. The company's Marketing Director, Irene · Rapaki (Erin Rapacki) said that the part of the company's customers "are not snow's biggest fan". According to Forbes reported in January this year, of which even the NSA.

Show real snow

Rapaki says she's glad to have people who can't walk to the place he wanted to go. The company's other clients are using the robot to visit factories in China, or remote participation in meetings.

Rapaki believes that Snowden's presentation using the technology in Vancouver, TED has been a major success. She pointed out that Snowden had used the Beam robot's size is almost as large as real people. When the NSA lichade·laijite (Richard Ledgett) Snowden responded, huge screens showing videos is through the stage. "This is exactly what the ' big brother ' feeling is anything but easy. "Rapaki said," there is a Beam, you can expand the private dimension of communication. ”

In TED's speech ended, Lord Snowdon Beam is also used simply to visit the venue, talked with the ACLU's Romero, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin (Sergey Brin) audience, thanks, and posing for pictures with people. As Wiesener said: "everyone wants to talk to Snowden robot, and a self-timer. ”

While standing on a stage just robots, but which was in a live audience, which seems to be snow feels most true time.