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‘Hologram’ technology sets pace for service delivery in Internet era
Growth of fibre optic infrastructure will make it possible for important services to be delivered through internet- based technologies. File
So earlier this week, it finally happened; someone was actually beamed up in my presence.
Coming in from San Jose in California where it was 2 a.m, the business executive addressed a full-to-capacity gathering at the just-concluded Cisco Expo, which took place in Nairobi earlier this week, in person.
Using the technology known as holographic telepresence, which relies on a mix of video and voice transmissions over an internet connection to set up a live conversation; using a life-sized ‘hologram’.
The whole experience called to mind the famous line “Beam me up, Scotty”, the catchy phrase that was popularised by the science fiction television series Star Trek.
In the TV programme, the character Captain Kirk instructs his chief engineer, Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, to ‘beam’ him up when he needs to be transported back to the Starship Enterprise.
It’s a technology that has been much anticipated by trekkies and techies alike, but until recently, it simply was not possible in this part of the world due to unreliable data connections.
This, believe it or not, could be the way of the future. In fact, Cisco so strongly believes that voice is yesterday’s technology, that they’ve actually changed their whole business model to adapt to more video. The prospect of beaming people between venues is already working in more practical ways for Kenya.
Companies in the private sector and the government are partnering to deliver specialised health consultations to remote villages in Kenya using the technology, meaning that locals do not have to set up costly trips to Nairobi or beyond to see specialised doctors.
Using the technology, they can set up video links at both the consulting hospital and the patients abode, and the doctor can then conduct a real-time diagnosis.
Similar initiatives are under way in the justice system, where the lack of court systems in rural areas has delayed the course of justice.
Judges sitting in a central venue can now hear cases held in remote areas just as if all parties were in the same courtroom, cutting down time spent on judgement deliveries and fast-tracking the speed of justice. Rachuonyo MP James Rege is reportedly already using similar technologies to conduct meetings with his constituents, where they express their concerns and needs to the MP through virtual links.
This has all been made possible by several factors ranging from the a growing need to expand the reach of government services to rural areas to increasing investments in this area by companies; but the single most important factor has been Kenya’s growth in fibre connectivity, which allows more citizens access to faster internet services.
According to Cisco, the technology — which they like to call telepresence — is helping innovative managers around the transform a variety of corporate and industry settings and applications — from corporate video conference rooms to auditoriums and fashion industry catwalks.
In the boardroom of the future, it will be possible to have screens set up at seats previously reserved for directors, allowing those who sit in different countries to consult freely over an internet link.
