University of Hertfordshire finds robot companions would help autistic children


  • Research team is making robots a part of family life for those with autism
  • So far, 300 autistic children in Britain have had access to one of 20 robots 
  • There are 700,000 Brits with autism, with one in 100 children affected 

Nikki Murfitt For The Mail On Sunday

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Set in a parallel universe where technology is so advanced that robot servants called Synths are a must-have for any household, the £12 million drama Humans – which has its season two finale tonight – has given Channel 4 its biggest hit for 20 years, with more than six million viewers tuning in each week.

But is the concept as far-fetched as it may seem?

Not so, according to a research team at the University of Hertfordshire, which has revealed that they hope to make human-looking robots a part of family life for thousands of children with the learning disability autism within the next two years.

So far, 300 autistic children in Britain have had access to one of 20 robots – all called Kaspar – both at school and in their homes. There are 700,000 people in the UK with autism, with one in 100 children thought to be affected. The condition is characterised by difficulties in interaction and communication. It is not fully understood what causes it, and there is no cure.

The £12 million drama Humans – which has its season two finale tonight – has given Channel 4 its biggest hit for 20 years

Dr Ben Robins, who help build the first Kaspar in 2006, explained: ‘The reason autistic children have problems communicating is because they find it difficult to interpret verbal and non-verbal language like gestures, tone of voice or facial expressions, and this can cause them to become extremely anxious.

‘The robot looks like a person but is minimally expressive, always dressed the same and always has his hat on. So for children with autism he offers a reliable, familiar face to interact with.’

Kaspar has features that look slightly human, but are obviously not – therefore communication, with all its complex and frightening subtleties and nuances, is less complicated and more comfortable for the child. When Kaspar feels sad, his head bows down; when he’s cross he turns his head to the side and puts his hand over his face.

There is no artificial intelligence – the robot is remotely controlled by a parent or teacher.

Its programming includes prerecorded speech and songs, and it can even wave and blink.

Dr Robins says that recent modifications have enabled Kaspar to use a knife and fork, comb his hair and brush his teeth – all skills that can be used to help autistic children at home with personal hygiene.

The robot can even encourage a child to sit down to a family meal – something those with the condition are often reluctant to do because it involves social interaction.

So far, 300 autistic children in Britain have had access to one of 20 robots – all called Kaspar (pictured) – both at school and in their homes

Dr Robins, who has been working on long-term trials with more than 70 autistic children aged from four to 16, says youngsters are happy to hug and kiss Kaspar, even if they are unable to have that same contact with their own families. Specialist teachers and therapists use the robot to encourage them to play games with other children.

Nan Cannon Jones, founder of Tracks, a specialist school for children with autism in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, said: ‘We had a child who refused to eat or sit with the other seven children at the school.

‘His mum sent him in with a box of biscuits, and with Kaspar’s encouragement over the course of ten weeks, he eventually got to the stage where he would put a biscuit on the robot’s lap and sit with him and the other children at the snack table and eat a biscuit himself.

‘We have had a lot of wow moments since Kaspar became a permanent part of our school, and if he can make this kind of difference to a child, he has got to be worth having.’

 

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