Many visitors walking around CeBIT , the world's biggest high-tech fair , have found themselves bumping into "Jazz", a "telepresence" robot also ambling around the vast expo.Created by French firm Gostai, "Jazz" is a shiny white humanoid robot that its makers believe could transform business meetings and reduce the need for long-distance travel.
Controllable by anyone with access to the Internet via a laptop or even smartphone , "Jazz" projects its user's presence, showing his or her face on its own "face" and speaking in its user's voice.
Launched only two months ago, "Jazz" could easily deputise for a manager in a business meeting, or tour a factory or shop floor, both recording and beaming back what it sees to its user, said Gostai employee Segolene Roche.
"The main advantage over teleconferencing is its mobility," she told AFP.
