{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-c03aa079.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-517835be.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='Robot provides therapy for autistic children' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54bde2d8eafeecae137666' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54bde2d8eafeecae137666' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nRobot provides therapy for autistic children\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eResearchers in Italy are testing a robot as a new form of therapy for autistic children.The robot talks, plays games and even teaches Tai Chi, all while monitoring every single response of the child.11-year-old Marco is in awe of his new...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eResearchers in Italy are testing a robot as a new form of therapy for autistic children.\u003cbr/\u003eThe robot talks, plays games and even teaches Tai Chi, all while monitoring every single response of the child.\u003cbr/\u003e11-year-old Marco is in awe of his new teacher. The 20-inch instructor might be a bit stiff, but he talks and even does Tai Chi.  \u003cbr/\u003eIt looks like a toy, but this SARACEN ( Socially Assistive Robots for Autistic Children Education) robot is equipped with super software, programmed to engage and monitor autistic children.\u003cbr/\u003eMarco is autistic. His condition limits his social and communication skills. But since he met this super-smart robot that plays with him, talks to him, and even keeps track of his emotions, Marco is more focused according to his therapists at the Amici di Nico Austism Centre in Lecce, Italy.\u003cbr/\u003eTherapists say the hardest part of treating autistic children is winning their attention - an area in which the robot is excelling.\u003cbr/\u003e\"Autistic children explore even when we don't notice, even when we aren't looking, they are already exploring whatever is in front of them.  That's how it happened with the robot.  Marco was incited by a strong curiosity, because a few days ago, the robot was just a simple toy that he would move, and now the robot moves toward him. So it was the novelty and curiosity that won his attention, something that is often deficient in autistic children,\"  says psychologist Agnese Pisanello. \u003cbr/\u003eThe robot might have gained a new friend in Marco, but not all autistic children respond the same, especially at the beginning. For some, interacting with the robot can be overwhelming. \u003cbr/\u003eAt the National Centre for Research in Lecce, engineers working on the SARACEN project are constantly tweaking the software to make it more versatile. \u003cbr/\u003eIt might look like child's play, but the robot operates on complex algorithms for behavioural patterns, and eye tracking. Its hidden cameras capture every reaction. Its computers analyse all data. \u003cbr/\u003e\"The robot keeps and records a series of information and metrics, for example, how many times the child locks eyes with the robot, for how long the child laughs, and so many other types of metrics. This information, which is objective, and could be difficult for a therapist to remember and keep track of, can easily be produced by the robot's family of therapists, and by a computerised system inside, to create a more personalised treatment for each child, and keep track of the child's progress,\" explains Giuseppe Palestra, head engineer for SARACEN. \u003cbr/\u003eSuch data would normally be impossible for a therapist to track. But now autism centres like Amici di Nico in Lecce, can use that information to better treat each child. \u003cbr/\u003eThe biggest challenge however, remains.  \u003cbr/\u003eSARACEN engineers want to develop artificial intelligence robots that can be customised to each child. \u003cbr/\u003e\"We would like to be one step ahead of state of the art, so that we can make the human-robot interaction better, and let's say 'humanise' the interaction between the robot and the child,\" says Palestra.\u003cbr/\u003eMaria Antonietta Bove is the founder of Amici di Nico (Nico's Friends), named after her autistic son, Nico. She says the robot shows promise, but autistic children will always respond at their own pace:\u003cbr/\u003e\"Every autistic child has a unique reaction, a unique imagination, which is clearly why one might marvel at the different reactions and behaviours of each child in the presence of a new toy. Each child reacts differently to outside stimuli. So, even the robot is an outside stimulus that should be presented slowly and gradually.\"\u003cbr/\u003eThe SARACEN project is a programme of the National Centre for Research and is funded by the Italy's Department of Education.  \u003cbr/\u003eSARACEN expects to complete their prototype by 2015. \u003cbr/\u003eAP Television \u003cbr/\u003eLecce, Italy, May 8, 2014\u003cbr/\u003e1. Close up of the back of the SARACEN robot's head, as it talks with an autistic child named Marco. \u003cbr/\u003eUPSOUND: (Italian) SARACEN Robot: \"Ok, let me think of an animal.\"\u003cbr/\u003e2. Wide of the robot, the child and a therapist from the Amici di Nico Austism Centre in Lecce, as they play a card game\u003cbr/\u003eUPSOUND: (Italian) SARACEN Robot: \"Ok, I've found one. Could you find me the picture of the dog?\"\u003cbr/\u003e3. Close up the child picking up a card with the image of dog\u003cbr/\u003e4. Medium shot of the robot talking to the child, SARACEN Engineer Giuseppe Palestra watches in the background \u003cbr/\u003eUPSOUND: (Italian) SARACEN Robot: \"Ok, can you show me which one you have chosen?\"\u003cbr/\u003e5. Wide shot of the robot raising its fist in sign of victory, to praise the child \u003cbr/\u003eUPSOUND: (Italian) SARACEN Robot: \"You did well!\"\"\u003cbr/\u003e6. Close up of a computer screen showing the robot interface\u003cbr/\u003e7. Medium shot of child, therapist and SARACEN engineer watching the robot stand up \u003cbr/\u003e8. Wide shot of the child and the psychologist imitating Tai Chi moves of the robot  \u003cbr/\u003eUPSOUND: (Italian) Therapist: \"Copy him. Look at him and do the same.\"\u003cbr/\u003e9. Medium shot of the child and therapist \u003cbr/\u003eUPSOUND: (Italian) Therapist: \"he's moving this way. Go on, you do it. Well done Marco! Lets stretch our leg out.\"\u003cbr/\u003e10. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Agnese Pisanello, psychologist at Amici di Nico, Austism Centre: \u003cbr/\u003e\"Autistic children explore even when we don't notice, even when we aren't looking, they are already exploring whatever is in front of them.  That's how it happened with the robot.  Marco was incited by a strong curiosity, because a few days ago, the robot was just a simple toy that he would move, and now the robot moves toward him. So it was the novelty and curiosity that won his attention, something that is often deficient in autistic children.\"     \u003cbr/\u003e11. Close up of the robot, reflected on the glass at the Amici di Nico Centre \u003cbr/\u003e12. Medium shot of a child grabbing the robot \u003cbr/\u003e13. Medium shot of the psychologist and child playing a card game with the robot \u003cbr/\u003eUPSOUND: (Italian) Robot: \"I'll leave you time to find the card.\"\u003cbr/\u003e14. Wide shot, exterior of the Lecce office for the National Research Centre\u003cbr/\u003e15. Close of a billboard reading, \"INO, National Institute of Optics,\" \u003cbr/\u003e16. Close of the robot getting up and standing on its legs \u003cbr/\u003e17. Close of the robot's face, rack focus on a computer screen\u003cbr/\u003e18. Close of code being typed on the computer screen\u003cbr/\u003e19. Medium of Engineer Giuseppe Palestra typing up code with the robot on his desk\u003cbr/\u003e20. Close up of the robot raising and moving its arm \u003cbr/\u003e21. Close up of the robot's hand, closing and opening\u003cbr/\u003e22. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Giuseppe Palestra, SARACEN Engineer:\u003cbr/\u003e\"The robot keeps and records a series of information and metrics, for example, how many times the child locks eyes with the robot, for how long the child laughs, and so many other types of metrics. This information, which is objective, and could be difficult for a therapist to remember and keep track of, can easily be produced by the robot's family of therapists, and by a computerised system inside, to create a more personalised treatment for each child, and keep track of the child's progress.\"\u003cbr/\u003e23. Wide shot of the three SARACEN engineers watching the robot speak and move  \u003cbr/\u003eUPSOUND: (Italian) Robot: \"Think of an animal. Ok, I've found ....\"\u003cbr/\u003e24. Medium of man showing robot a card \u003cbr/\u003eUPSOUND: (Italian) Robot: \"Show me the card you have chosen,\" (Cheering)\u003cbr/\u003e25. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Giuseppe Palestra, SARACEN Engineer: \u003cbr/\u003e\"We would like to be one step ahead of state of the art, so that we can make the human-robot interaction better, and let's say 'humanise' the interaction between the robot and the child.\"\u003cbr/\u003e26. Close up of an autistic teenager drawing a police car \u003cbr/\u003e27. Wide shot of an autistic teenager drawing\u003cbr/\u003e28. Close up of the same autistic teenager shaking his hand.\u003cbr/\u003e29. Wide shot of the autistic teenager sitting at table with the robot\u003cbr/\u003e30. Close up of Palestra programming the robot from his laptop \u003cbr/\u003e31. Wide shot of teenager, with his head nuzzled into his arms \u003cbr/\u003eUPSOUND: (Italian) Robot: \"Daniele.\"\u003cbr/\u003e32. Wide shot, exterior of the Amici Di Nico Centre \u003cbr/\u003e33. Medium shot of therapist holding hands with the autistic teenagers.\u003cbr/\u003e34. Medium shot of Amici di Nico Founder, Maria Antonietta Bove, walking with her son Nico, and another autistic person\u003cbr/\u003e35. SOUNDBITE: (Italian), Maria Antonietta Bove, Amici di Nico Founder: \u003cbr/\u003e\"Every autistic child has a unique reaction, a unique imagination, which is clearly why one might marvel at the different reactions and behaviours of each child in the presence of a new toy. Each child reacts differently to outside stimuli. So, even the robot is an outside stimulus that should be presented slowly and gradually.\"\u003cbr/\u003e36. Wide shot of SARACEN engineers inviting an autistic child to play with the robot\u003cbr/\u003e37. Close up of the SARACEN robot performing its Tai Chi routine\u003cbr/\u003e38. Wide shot of the same child sitting at a table and playing a card game with the robot\u003cbr/\u003e39. Medium shot of another autistic child, observing the card game with his therapist\u003cbr/\u003e40. 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