%0 Conference Paper %B 2009 4th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) %D 2009 %T Sociable robot improves toddler vocabulary skills %A Movellan, J. %A Eckhardt, M. %A Virnes, M. %A Rodriguez, A %K Algorithms %K autonomously operated robot %K Early Childhood Education Center %K Educational institutions %K Educational robots %K Games %K human factors %K Human-robot interaction %K intervention period %K Pediatrics %K Robot sensing systems %K robotics %K sociable robot %K social aspects of automation %K time 2 week %K toddler vocabulary skills %K Ubiquitous computering %K Vocabulary %X

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.

%B 2009 4th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) %I IEEE %C La Jolla, CA %8 03/2009 %@ 978-1-60558-404-1 %G eng %M 12908586