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August 27, 2010

Strange But True!

Q. In this age of robots, who are “carebots” caring for?

A. They're programmed to help with the elderly or stroke victims or autistic children, says robotocist and neuroscience professor Maja Mataric in “The Robotics Primer.” A robot named Bandit excels at blowing bubbles, making odd sounds and mimicking the movements of children with autism or related disorders, winning them over better than most human caregivers, says Susan Karlin in IEEE Spectrum magazine. After a presentation, the kids will invariably want to meet Bandit, which quietly collects behavioral data in order to predict, for instance, when a child is about to stop exercising. Socially assistive robots also help kids overcome extreme shyness or manage attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders.


 
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