Qualcomm sparked a ”Lost in Space” moment to the CTIA wireless conference on Tuesday, with “RP7″ — perhaps the new face of remote heath care — with its high-speed wireless connection and flat screen big enough to display what looks eerily like a disembodied head. 
Soon, for doctors, it may be the next best thing to being there, suggests Yulun Wang, CEO of the California-based developer of the product, Intouch Health. 
     
“You can immediately put the physician by the patients bedside wherever they’re at.” The physician “can be at the golf course and instantly be at their patients bedside.” 
     
In a demonstration, a doctor from Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Kansas, used a joystick linked to his laptop to control a robot back at the hospital. He virtually visited an ailing patient via “RP7″, asking about symptoms and suggesting a diagnosis to medical staff at the patient’s bedside. 
     
But if the surprise in Qualcomm’s audience’s reaction to the device is any indication, its not clear what effect the robot would have on patients with a nervous disposition. 
The doctor did not say whether his patients prefered the “live” presence of the hulking robot over the aura of their caring doctor. Some will have to get used to it: his hospital has bought several of the digital doctors. 
Wang said the company has sold about 100 of the robots in the last few years. Next up: corporations seeking to keep an eye on offshore manufacturing plants. 
“People would like to be able to walk the assembly line,” with the robot, he said.