Seema Patel’s Interbots, Inc.,the company that is passionately committed with creating entertaining experiences with Robots have taken a brilliant and innovative step higher with their team up with the Autism Center of Pittsburgh to provide innovative robot-based therapy for children with autism.
The high-tech spin-off company, with the Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center will work with Interbots in their “Character Therapy,” taking the help of the Interbot robot “Popchilla” testing the ability of children with autism with limited or no verbal skills. Popchilla will be used in the first phase of the program with a trained therapist. Programmers and developers at Interbots have created an iPad application that will allow the therapist to direct sessions, which will eventually be transitioned to allow the child to control the robot through an iPad application to identify emotions.
Seema Patel, CEO and co-founder of Interbots, through her company’s latest press release explains, “We’ve had numerous individuals tell us our robots could be tremendous tools for Autism therapy. We’re excited to be working with the Autism Center of Pittsburgh and the Sprout Foundation to take this first step. We’re going to learn a lot from the next few months.”
Seema Patel obtained a B.S. in Physics and a B.S. in Psychology from Harvey Mudd College before earning a Master’s in Computer Science while conducting research on affective robotics and human-robot interaction. She then went on to earn a Master’s in Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon University. Her industry experience includes Vivendi Universal Games, Crystal Dynamics, and Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development.
According to Cindy Waeltermann, Founder and Director of the Autism Centers of Pittsburgh “The premise behind the program is that children with autism are sometimes more likely to communicate with a non-human entity,” said. “When you have a child with autism, you use whatever interests them to gain access into their world. The idea is to bridge the gap between their word and ours.
It is hoped that with the arrival of this breakthrough intermediary that would traverse the world of the children with the outside one, a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the dynamics would be reached, thereby reducing behavioral ramifications. The iPad application is currently in production and the program is slated to begin this fall.
Here is an overview of “Let’s Make Shapes!” is an interactive iPad app for Popchilla, Interbots’ robotic media platform.
You all are really on the cutting edge of using your robotics to make a real difference in the lives of autistic children and their families. Keep up the great work! Seema, your qualifications are VERY impressive!
Thank you Gail. As you rightly pointed out, Seema and her team are the pioneers in adapting technology to better the lives challenged by the condition of Autsim, and that too at a stage which can help better their lives and make it more productive. The very idea of bridging the gap between their word and ours takes a new meaning with their commitment, enterprise and encouragement, which at Wowelle, we hold in high esteem.