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10 reasons why telepresence could screw up your life (gallery)

Turn your living room into a video conference center? Here are 10 reasons why you might be happier just using your cell phone.
By Andy Smith, Contributor
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1 of 11 Andy Smith/ZDNET

Last week, both Cisco and Logitech unveiled telepresence products that would turn your living room along with your big-screen TV into a video conference center. While the set-up cost and monthly fees might be a turn-off for some, we've come up with a bunch of different reasons why you might want to keep your home private.

Credit: Cisco

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2 of 11 Andy Smith/ZDNET

You have to change your cleaning habits and actually make a section of the living room look neat.

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3 of 11 Andy Smith/ZDNET

Telepresence could be even more expensive than at first look. You might have to refurnish your living room.

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4 of 11 Andy Smith/ZDNET

ZDNet blogger Jason Perlow thinks self-consciousness and a desire for privacy will keep people from adopting telepresence in their living room. But we think we may have a solution.

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You want this guy looking into your living room?

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Soon, it'll be "remember the old days" when you didn't have to dress up to answer the phone.

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7 of 11 Andy Smith/ZDNET

Personal grooming may show an improvement but you'll still be caught off guard. This guy probably forgot to shave so he'll be using that old "my kids have the flu" argument. But he did have to dress up and comb his hair.

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Here you are stuck in front of the TV when there's something more exciting going on in the next room. What are you going to do to keep the noise down?

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Spats between spouses will never be private. And what happens when someone yells obscenities nearby?

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Watching the last two minutes of the big game and grandma calls or someone tweets you, what do you do?

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11 of 11 Andy Smith/ZDNET

Here's one more clicker to add to the pile.

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