Why would a robot replace a human at a graduation ceremony?

Why do you think these robots were used? How successful do you think it was?

You can’t be at your graduation because of coronavirus? Send a robot. These Japanese university students did not let the lockdowns get in the way of their graduation ceremony. 

Business Breakthrough (BBT) University graduate students in Tokyo weren't allowed to go to a normal graduation ceremony. This was because of coronavirus worries. So they used Newme telepresence robots (also called avatar robots) to stand in their place. 

Digital tablets were put on the heads of the robots. The tablets showed the faces of students who used a Zoom conference call to be at the graduation ceremony remotely. The event took place at the Hotel Grand Palace in Tokyo on March 28.

The robots were also dressed in black hats and gowns for the graduation ceremony. 

One of the students said "When I enrolled, I never thought I would operate my avatar and attend the graduation ceremony. However, receiving a diploma in public is a novel experience."

The Newme telepresence robots aren't just useful for attending graduations, they also come in handy if you want to travel without leaving home.

Last year, All Nippon Airlines revealed that it would use Newme telepresence robots to allow people to experience faraway places without having to travel there. The robots would send high quality 2K videos that let its human users see and interact with the things the robot is experiencing in the other country.

Newme robots have also helped people who are handicapped to return to work again. And they have been used as robot waiters in Japanese cafes.

Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and have similar meaning. The meaning of these words is how they are used in the reading. Some of these words have different meanings in the dictionary depending on how they are used.

 The answers are below the table.

A=2, B=8, C=1, D=7, E=6, F=4, G=3, H=5

Some example sentences using the new words or phrases from the meaning of how they are used in the reading to help you understand better.

1. Don’t let playing online games get in the way of your study.

2. I can’t go to the meeting. Please stand in my place.

3. In the future, more people will work remotely.

4. This month our meeting will take place with online video.

5. For businesses to succeed they need to come up with novel ideas.

6. Keep your passport here. It will come in handy if you need to prove your age when you buy alcohol.

7. It has been revealed that 3 students were smoking in the school campus.

8. The reason children go to class is to interact with other students. It is important for their learning.

    

    

    

Some questions using the new words/phrases. Try to use the words/phrases in your answer.

1. How has Coronavirus gotten in the way of your life?

2. If you could not attend your graduation, how would you feel about a robot standing in your place (with a tablet computer so you can experience everything)?

3. In what other ways could these robots come in handy in your life?

4. How would you feel about interacting with a robot in a customer service job and not a human being?

5. Do you think we are going to work more remotely in the future? Why or why not?

6. What important events will take place in your life this next year? Describe the event and where it will take place.

7. What novel business ideas have you seen that you think are interesting?

8. What does someone’s fashion reveal about their character?