Power of Telepresence Robots in Connecting Rural Communities With Pop-Up Makerspace STEAM Studios

Abstract: This study is part of a larger project, "One Community One Challenge,” which explores community Pop-Up STEAM Studios makerspaces. Through the telepresence robots, we brought together the intergenerational community members at two different libraries in the county. Two facilitators were present in both locations to navigate the robots and document the process of sharing the making of artifacts. We present the participants’ experiences and challenges in implementing the telepresence robots to connect two pop-up makerspace settings at different geographic locations. The study's findings contribute to our understanding of how individuals perceive and interact with the new affordances so that we can facilitate a more strategic approach to better designing and implementing the incorporation of emerging technologies.