An Update from ROBOTTECA.COM on Humanoid Robot Being Used for Assisted Pediatric Medical Care

Technological advancements, clinical research and hospital adoptions surrounding and supporting the humanoid robot called NAO from Softbank Robotics, being used in pediatric medical care continues to grow and expand. The use of the NAO humanoid robot in assisted pediatric medical care when used with specialized behavior software continues to prove itself effective in reducing pain and stress in children facing medical procedures. Adoption of the robot is now expanding into pediatric dental practices.

A few of the more common questions follow:

How does a robot reduce children's pain?

The robot is programmed to use a variety of child friendly cognitive-behavioral strategies that are known to work. When we teach these to children, they tend to forget to use them, and when we teach them to parents, they tend to use them in an ineffective way. The robot delivers the intervention in exactly the way we program it to.

Why are hospitals using the robot to interact with children while they are having non-painful medical procedures like x-ray and EEG tests?
Many children experience extreme distress during procedures because they don’t know if it will hurt. They may expect the worst. The robot helps children manage their fear of pain.

Does the robot reduce pain simply because it's novel? Would repeated use of the robot with the same children still have an effect?
Since the robot has numerous capabilities, it can do something different every time it visits with a child. Each interaction with a child can be unique.

Are any children afraid of the robot?

When children meet the robot, they typically look to the adults to see if they are allowed to touch its body. Most children give the robot a ‘high five’ when invited to do so.

See www.robotteca.com  for additional information or call ROBOTTECA at 603-580-5497