Sony Aibo Robots Help Vision-Impaired

Robotic dogs are making life easier for vision-impaired toddlers and adults taking part in a new study, a researcher says.

Australia’s Griffith University PhD student Stuart Seymon said on Friday that he and fellow researchers were developing software packages for the robot dogs to suit the daily needs of vision-impaired people of all ages.
 
Mr. Seymon said the Sony Aibo ERS-210 robots being studied, which are between 20cm and 30cm tall with wireless Internet connection, voiced emails, played music and responded to touch and sound. He said early findings from the ongoing Gold Coast-study indicated the robots have the most impact on blind toddlers, suggesting they could play a positive role in helping children’s development.
 
Each study participant has been given one of the robots and the interaction between them is being analyzed.
 
“We are expecting to develop software for different stages of their lives to heighten their general awareness as they grow older,” Mr. Seymon said.
“Toddlers don’t see so they don’t know and then they don’t explore - (the
robots) could help with mobility and confidence to move around.”
 
Source: NineMSN.com, Australia