Sociable robot improves toddler vocabulary skills
Title | Sociable robot improves toddler vocabulary skills |
Publication Type | Conference Paper |
Year of Publication | 2009 |
Authors | Movellan, J, Eckhardt, M, Virnes, M, Rodriguez, A |
Conference Name | 2009 4th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) |
Date Published | 03/2009 |
Publisher | IEEE |
Conference Location | La Jolla, CA |
ISBN Number | 978-1-60558-404-1 |
Accession Number | 12908586 |
Keywords | Algorithms, autonomously operated robot, Early Childhood Education Center, Educational institutions, Educational robots, Games, human factors, Human-robot interaction, intervention period, Pediatrics, Robot sensing systems, robotics, sociable robot, social aspects of automation, time 2 week, toddler vocabulary skills, Ubiquitous computering, Vocabulary |
Abstract | We report results of a study in which a low cost sociable robot was immersed at an Early Childhood Education Center for a period of 2 weeks. The study was designed to investigate whether the robot, which operated fully autonomously during the intervention period, could improve target vocabulary skills of 18-24 month of age toddlers. The results showed a 27% improvement in knowledge of the target words taught by the robot when compared to a matched set of control words. The results suggest that sociable robots may be an effective and low cost technology to enrich Early Childhood Education environments. |