Learning still happens inside the learner. He needs help to learn the right things, needs help to find out if he really learned something, if he understood right. Therefore, distant educators use all kind of technology to support the learner, use technology the learner accepts. And because learners are different, ways of learning are different, good Distance Education means to use different kinds of 'technology' for the learning process - even classroom teaching, if it is necessary. The service can be done through technology.
Some service is done only by computers - a computer with a human touch.
But a computer cannot answer any question, cannot listen, cannot give time and attention to learning barriers and anxiety. A lot of people need a person to talk to during the learning process. They need the teacher. It is, however, not necessary that the teacher is present at the same location. But he should be available somewhere - within reach.