[Tyler]

Talking Robots: Kerstin Dautenhahn
     


The latest Talking Robots
episode interviews Kerstin Dautenhahn
from the University of
Hertfordshire in the UK. Dautenhahn uses robots in therapy sessions
with autistic patients. Autism
spectrum disorders are fairly common, with almost 1 in 100 people
affected. Symptoms include impaired social interaction and communication
as well as restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before the
age of three. According to Dautenhahn, who has extensively studied
interactions between robots and autistic children, a main advantage of
robot assisted therapy is that it facilitates interaction. Unlike
computers, which limit interactions to inputs by keyboard or mouse,
robots allow for a multitude of interactions via behaviors including
touch, approach and avoidance behaviors. Tune in if you want to learn
more about autism, robot assisted therapy and how it can help children
learn essential social skills like turn taking, joint attention and
imitation.

   

http://robots.net/article/2507.html