VGo

Save money now by employing a VGo to eliminate travel and related expenses and hassles, all while still keeping a strong physical presence.  The VGo is built for corporate and medical environments and it’s the next best thing to being there in person, if not better…

The VGo telepresence robot, produced by VGo Communications, is an elegant looking robot with far more than simply the basic features that are common amongst telepresence robots.  The VGo robot features a 6-inch LCD screen. It can easily drive over rugs, thresholds, and other changes in flooring, and even has lights to help with visibility and attracting attention.  In classroom settings students have used this to replicate raising their hand to get the teacher’s attention.

In corporate settings they can work with you to help ensure you stay connected between WiFi access points or if you’re using the VGo robot at a convention, or similar, where there may be hundreds of robots and thousands of people. To achieve this you would need to attach a MiFi device using the USB port at the back of the VGo and use a cellular plan. For gauging what plan you would need; the VGo uses about 500mb per hour in-call.

The VGo includes other unique features such as a high-resolution camera, zoom features, text-to-voice, and a tiltable head.  An automatic docking feature is available when the VGo robot is within 10 meters (about 11 yards) and can see the charger, that point a notification appears which you can press to send the VGo to charge.  Additionally, if the VGo is bumped from the charger, it will automatically re-connect. A newer feature, less common to telepresence robots, is the ability for people to call remote users from the robot (most robots allow for the remote user, exclusively, to initiate the call). To achieve this, however, the remote user will need to be using the Windows or Mac version of the VGo application.

What do you need to drive the VGo? 

VGo encourages PC use, but the VGo robot can be controlled via tablet, too.  The VGo can be driven from a Windows or Mac PC, iPhone or iPad, or Windows tablets.  Recommended tablets include the Apple iPad or iPad Mini with a front-facing camera (2nd generation or later), and the iPhone 5 S or better, the Samsung Series 7 and the Microsoft Surface Pro (but the Surface RT will not work) and tablets with Intel i5 or i7 chips.  You can download the VGo driving app for both Windows or Mac on VGo’s website while you can download the app for iPad and iPhone in the Apple Store.  VGo plans to add functionality for Android devices.  Broadband internet connection speeds of 1.5MBps upload are recommended while 768KBps is the minimum requirement.

For VGo users in the medical field?

The aforementioned high-resolution camera allows doctors to see such things as a patient’s pupil reaction. The VGo can also connect to, and display, results of CT scans and electronic medical records.  Hospitals and doctors are using the VGo to visit rural hospitals, senior care facilities, in-home post-operative care patients, and to conduct rounds at rural locations from their own homes and offices.  Medical schools and hospitals have been able to involve top surgeons and specialists in medical training thanks to the telepresence capabilities of the VGo.

Hospitals and clinics also use the VGo to provide interpreter services for a fraction of the cost of having a translator in person, for long-stay pediatrics, and for patient visits from friends and family, allowing greater customer satisfaction, which often propagates an improved hospital image. Another benefit provided by the VGo is the ability to obtain a quick second opinion.  For example, if there is an unexpected development with a patient’s wound, on-site medical staff can quickly have a second specialist from another location “present” to provide their own advice.  Having a specialist on-call and able to log-in to a VGo from his home, rather than commuting to a particular hospital or clinic, could save millions of brain cells that would potentially be lost, as in the case of stroke victims, and could also increase the probability of success in other life or death scenarios.  All of these applications help people in the medical industry increase efficiency and quality of care, and help them decrease expenses incurred by travel and time.

For VGo users in Business, Education, or other fields?

The LED lights mounted on the camera help users navigate dark hallways and improves the detail of snap-shot photos.  Sick or otherwise disabled students are able to use these lights as a way to signal the attention of their teachers and professors; resembling children holding up their hands as if they were present in the classroom.  The tilt feature allows the user to look up and down as they wish in order to see more than a normal video conference would allow.

At about four feet tall (with an optional one foot extension), the VGo has a height which is comfortable to interact with whether you are sitting down or standing up.  Another convenient feature is the ability of the VGo to be auto-activated either immediately or on a delay, where the user is announced at the robot’s location and can begin driving the robot after 15 seconds.  Their robot can also be set to manual activation, where a button on the screen must be pressed before the user can begin remote operation.

The VGo app allows users to login to an available robot by clicking on the location where they wish to be.  Communication is handled through VGoNet, which handles the complexities of real time Audio/Visual communication with the ongoing robotic controls.  Additionally, the VGo app allows other VGo users to communicate via Instant Messaging, voice, or video chats on PCs.  Currently, the VGo robot can not be controlled using smartphones but VGo Communications is working to make this possible.

The VGo robot, whether for business, telemedicine, or manufacturing, allows you to virtually be in two places at once and engage more fully in communication with employees, patients, or coworkers. The ability to control the robot commands more attention and provides you with greater control of what is seen and heard.

There is a required a monthly service plan for the VGo, which provides unlimited technical support, and access to all software updates. The service plan covers cloud-based features such as administrative tools, where administrators can view all users and control such things as who has access to which telepresence robot.  The service plan also includes helpdesk support and performance tools.

If you purchase their ARS (Advanced Replacement Service) for an additional fee, they’ll provide immediate shipping of broken parts/units, including batteries, in the event it is necessary.  

Hoping to speak at a conference without needing to travel there?

The VGo is a great option for avoiding travelling time and associated expenses.  Have a VGo shipped to the remote location (or perhaps the conference center / business / university, already has their own), and deliver your speech or lecture from the comfort of your home or local office.

The VGo can interface with an external microphone system.  Simply plug a wireless microphone into the “Audio Out” space in the back of the VGo and you will have the same vocal presence as in person.  For larger audiences, the location hosting the VGo may wish to consider using a camera to zoom in on the VGo’s screen and broadcasting it on a wall (just as they would do if a live person were presenting).