Role-playing and verbal interaction are used by the robots to engage the children. Two miniature robots carry out social situations on a tabletop in a typical class, assisting the children in distinguishing between appropriate and inappropriate behavior such as tantrums or screaming.
What is autism?
Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a group of disorders marked by difficulties with social skills, repetitive activities, vocabulary, and nonverbal communication. Autism affects 1 in 54 children in the United States today, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
We now recognize that there are many subtypes of autism, the majority of which are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that each person with autism has their own set of strengths and challenges. People with autism can read, think, and solve problems in a variety of ways, ranging from highly qualified to seriously challenged. Some individuals with ASD may need a great deal of assistance in their everyday lives, while others may need less assistance and, in some cases, live completely independently.
Use of role-playing robots to treat autism
A Hong Kong professor has created an educational curriculum that uses role-playing robots to help children with autism strengthen their social skills, as part of a larger effort involving non-profit organizations and schools. Robot for Autism Behavioral Intervention (RABI) is a programme for people with autism aged 3 to 18 years old that seeks to help them become more social and overcome problems such as bullying and conflict. Since its introduction in 2015, more than 1,200 children have used the software, according to Catherine So, associate professor of educational psychology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
“Autistic people have poor desire to communicate with others and are hypersensitive to the world around them,” according to So. “In order to reduce their fear, we use the social robots to teach them social skills.”
How it works?
Role-playing and verbal interaction are used by the robots to engage the children. Two miniature robots carry out social situations on a table top in a typical class, assisting the children in distinguishing between appropriate and inappropriate behavior such as tantrums or screaming.
Muse Wong, 41, said her 5-year-old daughter has been in the programme for seven months and has seen a significant improvement in her social and communicative skills.
Wong said, “She has begun to have some degree of social life.”
The children are encouraged to practice their social skills with a human teacher after engaging with the robots.
