Robots replace Japanese students for graduation amid COVID-19 crisis
Students at the Business Breakthrough University in Tokyo used robotic stand-ins for a graduation ceremony. The robots, dubbed "Newme" by developer ANA Holdings, were dressed in graduation caps and gowns for the ceremony.
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| Spring graduation ceremonies in Japan have been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, but students at one school were able to attend remotely by controlling avatar robots while logged on at home. Photo: CNET |
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| The robots' "faces" were tablets that displayed the faces of the graduates, who logged on at home and controlled the robots via their laptops. Photos: PR Time |
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| One by one, the robots motored toward the podium to receive their diplomas. School staff clapped and said "congratulations!" as University President Kenichi Ohmae placed the diplomas on a rack mounted on the robot's midsection. |
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| Ipads attached to 'newme' robots replacing graduating students' presence at a ceremony, wear graduation gowns and hats in Tokyo, Japan. |
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| The university hopes its approach can be adopted by other schools looking to avoid mass gatherings. |
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| "I think this is truly a novel experience to receive a certificate in a public area while I am in a private space," Kazuki Tamura said via his computer avatar when receiving his master's degree diploma. |
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 | One of latest COVID-19 patients in Cambodia found a Vietnamese woman A female tourist has become the first Vietnamese citizen to be infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) virus in Cambodia, said the Cambodian Ministry of ... |
 | Vietnam proposes joint ASEAN military drill as COVID-19 outbreak worsens Head of the Military Medical Department Major General Nguyen Xuan Kien suggested holding a joint drill on COVID-19 prevention and control between ASEAN countries’ military ... |
 | Vietnam gifts 550,000 face masks to EU countries in coronavirus fight Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung on April 7 symbolically handed over 550,000 made-in-Vietnam face masks to five European countries including the UK, France, Germany, Italy ... |
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