Harnessing ICT to support the learningand interpersonal relationships of
hospitalised children simultaneously:
remote learning support for
hospitalised children using avatar
robotsBackground to the Project
Using robot technology to support boththelearning
andconstructionofinterpersonal relationships for hospitalised
children simultaneously
Tottori Prefecture is endeavouring toenhance the education of children withdisabilities in a manner appropriate to theirindividual situations by enhancing medicalcare systems and implementing education
through home visits.
However, in the case of hospitalised
children in particular, learning in groups isoften difficult and largely restricted, forreasons such as limitations on movement andthe need to avoid the risk of infection.
Consequently, opportunities for forming
values and concepts that are born throughinteracting and learning together with otherchildren may be limited in some cases.
In order to encourage the development ofeach child as much as possible, even in
environments such as this, and increase thepossibility of their being able to participate insociety, Tottori Prefecture is endeavouring toenhance education focusing on the potentialof ICT—and robot technology in particular—from the perspective of supplementing not
only children’s lessons but also theirinteractions with other students.

Tottori Prefecture

Project Outline
Providing support for hospitalised children’ssmooth return to school by having “AvatarRobots” participate in school lessons andactivities on the children’s behalf
1. Schoolchildren who are hospitalised orrecuperating at home for a certain lengthof time are loaned “OriHime,” a remotely
operated robot model developed for
healthcare/nursing care purposes. By
connecting the children with their school
and other schoolchildren through OriHime,the project aims to construct anenvironment in which the hospitalised
children can share everyday conversations,activities, and experiences with theirclassmates.
2. Supplying “OriHime” to special needs
schools and hospital schools in which thehospitalised children are enrolled enables
the children to participate in generalclasses with their classmates.

Project Aims
Through interactive remote education
utilising ICT devices and robots, the project
aims to enhance hospitalised children’seducation by supporting both their learning
andconstructionofinterpersonalrelationships.

OriHime1Features and Innovations
Supporting both the learning andconstruction of interpersonal relationships
for hospitalised children simultaneously
1. Learning support classes
As the hospitalised child’s avatar, the robot
enables the child to proactively participate inclasses by raising their hand and commenting.
Firstly, “OriHime” robots are placed in theclassroom and the hospitalised child uses an
iPad to participate in interactive remotelearning.
Through OriHime’s movements, the child isable to not only see and check what ishappening in the classroom, but also raise
their hand or comment, proactivelyparticipating in the lesson.
Furthermore, because “OriHime” can also
be taken outside the classroom, it is possible
for the child to virtually experience learning
activities outside the classroom as well.

hospitalised children to perform actions suchas raising their hand in class and shifting theirgaze in the direction they wish to look, thereby
proactively participating in class activities.
Additionally, the use of avatar robots
tremendously expanded the potential for
virtual experiences, something that wasdifficult to do using tablets.
Furthermore, the actions of “OriHime”
increases the presence in the classroom of thehospitalised child for the children in theclassroom, and even in situations whereexchanges were difficult to achieve just withsound, the robot’s actions made it possible forthe child to indicate their intentions/wishes,giving both sides a sense that communication
was being strengthened.
In 2020, as a measure against the spread of
COVID-19, children with underlying medical
conditions who are unable to attend school
were able to participate in classes and otherschoolactivities
via”OriHime.”

2. Supporting construction of interpersonal
relationshipsEndeavouring to deepen children’sinterpersonal relationships with otherchildren through two-way communicationthat does not stop at words
Because “OriHime” can not only emit
sounds but also move, the robot enables
deeper conversation that does not stop atwords and deepening of human relationships
can be expected.
Furthermore, in addition to being directlyoperated using an iPad, the robot can also beoperated using eye gaze input, enabling it to
be used in whichever manner is mostappropriate for each child.
Results of the Project
Both the hospitalised children andusers/those in the classroom feel that
communication has been strengthened, anduse of avatar robots has also been aneffective measure against COVID-19.
At special needs schools, while remoteclasses had conventionally been held via videocommunication apps using tablets, changing
the device from tablet to robot enabled

Issues and Responses
Because this is a new initiative, continued
verification testing as to its effectiveness as
an educational method is necessary.
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Since the project was implemented inadvance of other local government bodies,detailed information about the project’s
results and issues that need to be addressed
are presently being compiled, and in thefuture will continue to be catalogued andshared by a verification committee.

◆Special Needs Schools
These are schools that provide children withdisabilities with education equivalent tothat provided by elementary schools andjunior high schools. Special needs schools
also aim to provide children with disabilities
with the knowledge and skills necessary forthem to overcome the difficulties they facein learning and in their everyday lives due totheir disability and gain independence.

Future Developments
By effectively utilising avatar robots inaccordance with the degree of each child’sdisability, the project aims to further
expand and spread their use.
In particular, eye gaze input enables
children with a high degree of physicaldisability to see things using the robot as theirown eyes, as well as alleviate the difficulty of
vocalising or making sounds, providing anextremely effective method for proactively
connecting the children with society.
It is felt that the continued use of avatar
robots has the potential to lessen thesechildren’s social disabilities. Accordingly,
Tottori Prefecture intends to establish
effective methods appropriate to the level ofeach child’s disability and expand the scope ofthe use of Avatar Robots, tying these activities
to children’s nurturement that furtherconnects them to society.
Contact
Division in charge: Special Needs Education
Division
Phone: +81-0857-26-7575
E-mail: tokubetusienkyoiku@pref.tottori.lg.jp
Key Terms◆OriHime
A remotely operated robot developed foruse in healthcare/nursing care, “OriHime” isequipped with a microphone, camera, andspeakers, enabling users to hear sound andsee images remotely through “OriHime”.
Conversely, users can also convey their own
voice through the robot. Furthermore,“OriHime” can also move its neck and hands
to “nod”, “clap”, and otherwise demonstrate
the user’s intentions, conveying a “sense thatthat person is right there”.
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