- Title: JAPAN: School tests out robot teachers
- Date: 11th May 2009
- Summary: SAYA AT PODIUM SAYA LECTURE
- Embargoed: 26th May 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Science / Technology,Education
- Reuters ID: LVAAPDUPDJ8QJN8CBOIFG9OIJ6FT
- Story Text: Students at the Kudan Elementary School in downtown Tokyo were told a special lecturer was due to come in to help teach them through their day's science class.
But few expected the teacher would need three grown men to help her up to the podium or need special programming to talk.
Saya, the substitute teacher, is a robot.
But Saya was not always a teacher. She began her career as an android receptionist at Tokyo companies before being re-programmed to teach children the joys of new technology.
Built by Professor Hiroshi Kobayashi of Tokyo University of Science, he says she is not meant to take away the jobs of teachers.
"We are not looking at making something that will take over teachers, but rather our main reason for building this robot is to use new technology to teach children about technology," he told Reuters.
But Saya may be able to help in schools where there is a shortage of teachers, he added.
"In the countryside and in some small schools, there are children who do not have the opportunity to come into contact with new technology and also there are few teachers out there that can teach these lessons, so we also hope to be able to develop this robot so it can be remotely controlled to teach these classes."
Saya, was a hit with the children. Many had their eyes glued on to her throughout the lecture.
Ten-year Nanako Iijima thought the robot lecture was more entertaining than her usual teachers.
"Its so much more fun than regular classes," she said.
Most were mesmerised by the real-life appearance of Saya.
"It was great seeing the robot moving and speaking," added Masaru Tabata, another fifth grader at this elementary school.
The class teacher, however was not convinced Saya was ready to go full time.
"I think on one hand I am impressed that they've got robots to go this far, but on the other hand they still have a long way to research before they create a truly robotic teacher," Akito Fukuda, the school's science teacher told Reuters.
The curiousity of the children did not stop after the class. Children went up close to their teacher and spent time pinching, prodding and poking her face. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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