Hong Kong Scientists Create Robots To Help People With Autism Have Social Skills

Professor Catherine So introduces Robot RABI. (Source: www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk)

JAKARTA - A Hong Kong professor has developed an educational program using robot games, a role to help children with autism improve their social skills, part of an initiative adopted by non-profit groups and schools.

Called the Robot for Autism Behavioral Intervention (RABI), this program is designed for children with autism between the ages of 3 and 18, to help them become more social. Also to solve problems such as conflict and intimidation.

Catherine So, professor of educational psychology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said more than 1,200 children have used the program since its launch in 2015.

"Autism sufferers have low motivation to interact with other people, and hypersensitivity to the world around them," said So, reported Reuters.

RABI Robot. (Source: www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk)

"So we used social robots to teach them social skills to reduce their anxiety," he continued.

The robot engages children with role playing and verbal interactions. A typical classroom involves two small robots acting out a social scenario on a table, helping children see the difference between appropriate and unacceptable behavior such as tantrums or screaming.

Muse Wong, a parent whose daughter has been participating in the program for seven months, said her daughter's social skills and communicative skills have improved greatly.

"He has started to have a certain social life," said Wong of his five-year-old daughter.

The RABI robot is already in use in Hong Kong and Macau. (Source: www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk)

After interacting with the robot, children are encouraged to try out social skills with a human companion. More than 20 non-profit groups funded by the government and public schools in Hong Kong and Macau have adopted the program.

No wonder this program is a hope to fight exclusion of children with autism.

"We believe RABI can help autistic children improve their social skills and behavior. And in turn, improve their quality of life," concluded Wong.