The internet is a very fast evolving new technology, allowing to electronically connect places that are thousands of miles apart. However, up to now, electronic networks serve mainly to exchange and acquire information. In some cases this information is pictorial by means of images taken in 'real time' with a stationary web-camera. To take full advantage of a network such as the internet, it would be very desirable to get real physical interaction with the site being visited. Robots and especially mobile robots can extend the internet towards an interactive platform of that kind, allowing actions at locations far from the own place.
Intelligent robots add a new dimension to the internet and open a large field for new applications.
The main goal of the workshop 'Robots on the Web' is to bring together researchers from all relevant fields. This should trigger an extended discussion on the important issues and initiate collaboration on all levels. The interactive exploration of exceptional distant places is a dream for many people. Walt Disney discussed to have such an interactive set-up to explore the moon. Let this dreams become reality.