PopArm: A robot arm for embodying video-mediated pointing behaviors

In a videoconferencing system, there is a problem that the direction to which a remote instructor points is unclear. To solve this problem, we developed the PopArm, a remote pointing robotic arm that seems to pop out from the video. The PopArm is able to move and rotate on a display, synchronizing with the movement of the remote instructor's arm. This robot arm allows the remote instructor to three-dimensionally point at remote locations. In addition, it is expected that the PopArm enhances social telepresence, i.e., the sense of resembling face-to-face interaction, due to the design which the remote instructor's arm seems to pop out from video.