A Comparison of Interactive and Robotic Systems in Therapy and Education for Children With Autism
By Davis, Megan; Robins, Ben; Dautenhahn, Kerstin; Nehaniv, Chrystopher; Powell, Stuart; Assistive Technology: From Virtuality to Reality, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 353-357Publication Date: 2005
Paper focuses on the Aurora Project, which seeks to help children with conditions such as autism that make it difficult for them to interact with other people by utilizing robotic and interactive computer systems. The aim of the project is to determine if such systems can be used to facilitate social behavior via the use of the following applications: (1) an autonomous non-humanoid robot, (2) a small stationary humanoid robot, and (3) a touch sensitive screen. Studies conducted with the non-humanoid robot provided children with the opportunity to play with the robot as it moved around on the floor. Children were allowed to approach, avoid, or pick up the robot, while researchers paid attention to factors such as the children’s eye gaze, approach, and avoidance, all of which are important aspects of social interaction. Studies conducted with the small stationary humanoid robot incorporated ideas from movement and dance therapy via Roberta, which is a humanoid doll robot. Roberta stays in one place while “dancing”, as the children are observed while interacting with the robot while it dances. The study with the touch sensitive screen allowed students to explore ideas of narrative comprehension while interacting with a picture story completion game called TouchStory. The children were observed while choosing the sequences of the story. This research was conducted by the Adaptive Systems Research Group at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.
Published by: IOS Press (Website:http://www.iospress.nl)
Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) (Web Site: http://www.aaate.net )
Link to text: http://iospress.metapress.com/link.asp?id=w28q5qq0t4tjywqd
