Robotic characters tested for clinical work and training at Toronto CAS - Children's Aid Society - Brief Article

Community Action, August 19, 2002

TORONTO -- The use of child friendly robots in work with children appears promising and continues to be developed by the Children's Aid Society of Toronto.

The four-foot tall robots come in four models: Motoring Mike (a white male), The Honourable Judge Wheeler (a black female), Touring Tom (a black male) and Wendy Wheeler (a white female). Each rides a bike, sits in a chair or sits in a wheel chair and has a pin sized colour cameras set into the eyes, a voice-activated mouth that forms the words, a built-in cassette recorder, and a range of body movements.

Project Coordinator Robert Lethbridge told Community Action: "The more we observe children interacting with the robots, the more we see the ongoing potential of the child-friendly robotic characters as effective social agents. We also see the joy, fascination and wonderment on the faces of children as they read, talk with or entertain one of the characters. To say that the majority of children respond in a positive manner toward these robotic characters as social agents is an understatement. Positive effects of this interaction appear to be a decrease in the level of anxiety with an accompanying increase in comfort level while communicating traumatic events to an adult authority figure as well as the softening of the child's harsh life experience."

Children are affectionate, helpful and curious with the characters. With most encounters the children are eager to know about the character's family make-up, how old the character is and what they do. The Robot Project continues to focus on clinical, educational and promotional applications. With the assistance of the Robot Facilitators from the Children's Aid Society of Toronto the robots have been tested in a variety of settings with children using adult facilitators' knowledge and skills to provide the personalities. "Clearly, the robotic characters have proven to be very useful in communicating with children," Lethbridges says.

The use of robotic technology appears to enhance communication between adults and children concerning traumatic events. The robots have been tested in groups of children with facilitators, or child care givers. Child Protection Workers find the robotic characters as having therapeutic value in a variety of settings.

The project is funded by the State Street Trust Company of Canada and the Childrens Aid Foundation.

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