The municipal government of Shimotsuke, eastern Japan, is preparing to introduce avatar robots under a new support initiative aimed at children who are unable to attend school or are dealing with social anxiety.
The program will enable students to join classroom activities and counseling sessions remotely from their homes.
This will mark the first time the technology is used for school attendance support in Tochigi Prefecture, with a trial scheduled to start on Sept. 1 after the summer break.
Known as “OriHime,” the compact white robot stands about 20 centimeters tall and features a built-in camera, microphone and speaker. Students staying at home will be able to operate the device remotely through a tablet or smartphone, allowing them to watch and listen to activities at the site in real time while communicating through voice or chat.
In addition to transmitting audio and video, the robot is capable of 20 preset movements. These include turning its head to observe its surroundings and raising its hand to attract attention. The features are intended to give students a greater sense of physical presence and enable them to engage with others as if they were actually there.
The robots will be placed at the “municipal school education support center,” which provides assistance to students facing challenges with attending school. Using the devices, children will be able to participate in activities such as playing card games with their peers and joining consultations with support personnel remotely.
The Shimotsuke Municipal Government expects the initiative to ease the emotional pressure faced by children by allowing them to maintain social connections from a place where they feel secure. Officials hope the approach will gradually help participants move toward returning to school or taking part in face-to-face counseling. Applications will open on Sept. 1, while the four-month trial will assess how the robots are used and whether the program should continue.
Mayor Tetsuya Sakamura said, “We want to build a warm support system that leaves no one behind. We hope this initiative will serve as a stepping stone, helping children gradually transition to in-person school attendance and face-to-face counseling according to their individual circumstances.”
