Kumamoto School in southwestern Japan will allow students who don’t attend school to control telepresence robots in the classroom. This is quite unusual because in Japan, school attendance for minors is nearly 100%, but many have stopped going to school after the pandemic.
The organizers of the initiative are hopeful that this setup will encourage students to return to class, although the effectiveness of the measure remains to be seen.
Starting in the next two months, two robots will be used for the pilot program, each equipped with microphones, speakers, cameras, and a tablet to enable two-way communication. The one-meter-tall robot will be controlled from home by the student through a computer.
With their built-in wheels, the robots can even move around the school, though it must be admitted that they will need assistance when dealing with challenging obstacles, such as stairs. Japan is quite fond of robots, especially Gundams.
The issue in schools was exacerbated by the pandemic
Kumamoto, like other parts of Japan, has seen a four-year increase in school absenteeism, partly attributed to mental and physical issues arising during the pandemic.
The city’s recent efforts to improve the situation have included broadcasting classes to students at home in a virtual classroom.
While this system has helped reduce anxiety for students reluctant to attend in-person classes, telepresence robots are expected to increase interaction between students at home and those in the classroom, making the experience more natural and building confidence for a potential return to school.
“In addition to allowing them to attend classes, the robots enable students to move freely within the space and communicate with others at their own pace,” explained the local newspaper Mainichi. “We hope this can help reduce the mental barriers for students who are hesitant to attend.”
The trial is expected to last until March and provide authorities with enough data to determine if it’s worth extending the system.
While telepresence robots have existed for some time, they have not yet taken off on a large scale. However, this hasn’t stopped major companies like Honda from exploring the technology.
