Introduction of social robots into education and positive aspects of innovation essay

Social robots are now being actively introduced into school. In Japan, robot Saya is used as the world’s first robot teacher (Saerbeck 2010). Professor Hiroshi Kobayashi has been developing this robot for over 15 years. Robot teacher can speak almost any language, move its head and answer questions, read aloud from the book and give students assignments, express its mood by changing facial expression (Saya uses 18 motors for mimic movements, producing real facial expressions, including surprise fear, disgust, anger, joy and sadness.). In general, it basically performs all the tasks of a teacher.
It is assumed that the first teaching robots will be used in several experimental classes being manipulated by real teachers from a special control center. Experts claim it could be the first economically viable robot that could be recouped within a few years. Therefore, the developers believe that this robot is a cheap alternative to the ordinary teacher. Professor Kobayashi stated that his goal was to develop something useful for daily life, and robot teacher is an ideal application of a mechanical man (Tanaka 2007).
Korea Advanced Intelligent Robot Association (KAIRA) together with the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) also recently started a similar experiment. By the end of 2008 it was planned to use 64 robots in three Korean cities, including Seoul: robots were to be engaged in teaching English. The robot model can perform the basic tasks, such as teaching reading and pronunciation. Basing on user feedback, KAIRA and MIC are going to fix errors, improve the machines and start selling electro-mechanical teachers for about $ 960 apiece by the end of next year (Sabanovic 2007).
British schools will soon receive a modification of a humanoid robot dancer MechRC, ED-E, designed for schools. ED-E can become a visual aid for teaching subjects that require spatial imagination. Students themselves will program its movements, which will help to better understand their mathematics and physics (Saerbeck 2010).
Developers hope that humanoid appearance will play a key role. Each of the 17 servo motors can be programmed with remote control. The robot can perform various dance steps, somersault, and even play football. All the programmed actions can be previewed on a computer screen. The robot will cost 428 pounds.
Japanese Institute of Technology together with developers Harada Vehicle Design, ZMP and ZNUG Design have created a robot that should encourage children to learn physics and mathematics. Humanoid robot NIT with built-in touch sensors, can walk, turn in different directions, speak, detect and avoid obstacles. It may become a good teacher assistant: explain the lesson topic, show slides and video. Its main purpose at school is to demonstrate the advanced technologies, which can interest lower and middle level students to learn better. Besides, the rapid development of robotics leads to greater use of robots in everyday practical life, so children should learn to communicate with them (Tanaka 2007).
Talking Robo, a robot that can teach foreign languages, has been presented recently. It understands natural language and can recognize a speech and suggest topics for conversation. Talking Robo also has Face Detection, which allows him to coordinate his conversation with a specific person.
In addition, it can recognize images; being showed a picture of an object, the robot can show the correct pronunciation of the object’s name. Using the projector Talking Robo can show images, watch movies, and connect to the Internet (Becker 2006).
Similar complex functions can be performed by another social robot – VANI (Variety, Ability and Intimacy) created by Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) in partnership with CTS (Creative Technical Services). VANI is designed for teaching children English. It has quite large vocabulary, and 12-inch touch LSD screen on the chest that demonstrates the things needed to be properly called in English. It was first demonstrated at the Robot World Fair 2008. Since then, the robot has been significantly improved – particularly in terms of security. Developers plan to introduce VANI into schools in 2010.
Honda Company has started the tour in elementary schools with the famous robot ASIMO. The main goal of Honda’s campaign is environmental education, during which children will be told about the quantity of waste produced annually, and the various complexities associated with purification of polluted waters. It is planned that humanoid ASIMO will visit eight Japanese schools. ASIMO will conduct interactive quizzes on climate change with awards for correct answers. Naturally, when conducting this kind of quiz, robot will demonstrate all its possibilities (Tanaka 2007).
Another promising project is Nexi – MDS (mobile dexterous social robot) developed jointly by XitomeDesign and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Specific construction allows the robot to perform movements similar to natural. Nexi’s face has 15 degrees of freedom, expressive eyebrows, eyes, eyelids and lower jaw. The robot is able to express emotions such as anger, grief, bewilderment, boredom, enthusiasm, etc. During the interaction Nexi can learn new words and models of behavior (Saerbeck 2010).
Texas company Hanson Robotics has presented a humanoid robot Zeno that costs $ 2500. Its software allows identifying several people in the room. According to the company’s founder, Robert Hanson, robot itself forms certain ideas about who you are, what you like and what you say. Developers are approaching the level when robots will be able to conduct a fluent dialogue on any topic. In 2011 or 2012 Hanson is going to present on market a mass model with the same capabilities, but for only $ 250.
Many researchers (Saerbeck 2010; Sabanovic 2007; Becker 2006) predict the rapid development of digital neurology, which must inevitably lead to the creation of a powerful artificial intelligence imitating one’s train of thoughts. Now, IBM works on the project Blue Brain, and promises to create a real virtual brain by 2019.
Today, features and gestures of social robots are already human-like. Their interaction with people is so similar to the genuine communication that people perceive it as a partner, not machine (Duffy 2003). Experiments showed that if the robot’s behavior conforms to generally accepted concepts of trust and friendliness, people, especially children, react to it just as to other people. Moreover, social robots are effective for the involvement of children with disabilities into public life (education, communication) (Fong 2003).
Also, for the first time in the world a robot has been used for protecting the educational institution: a robot OFRO from the German company Robowatch Technologies will soon start working in the Korean school. According to the company, one of the possible scenarios is that OFRO will give an alarm signal to school administrators when it detects someone trying to seduce a student. In this case, the offender will get a warning over the robot loudspeaker or meet with the guards. After tests in Seoul school, Robowatch Technologies hopes to begin selling OFRO as a school guard. Besides, these robots already protected the football championship in Germany, and their creators are building its more compact version.
Thus, today, Social Robot is a telepresence device designed to meet social needs. Having packed with features, social robot can assist a teacher, teach, as well as significantly optimize and reduce the cost of the learning process.