EdTech Europe 2015 [Track 3]: [University of Macedonia], [Nikolas Fachantidis]

Dr. Nikolaos FachantidisAssistant professor UoM

Imagine …

Imagine …

Imagine …

isolationdespair

frustrationanxiety

annoyancedetest

lonelinessanger

dead-endencapsulatio

ninconvenien

cefear

living with AUTISM

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

self - exclusion

Only Leonidas ?

Autism facts and statistics• 1 in 68 children has been identified

boys: 1 in 42 , girls:1 in 189• $8,600 extra per year only for education (not therapy)

• Autism services cost U.S. citizens $236-262 billion/year • Europe: life (70 years) care ~ 800.000 €

(not considering intellectual disability cases)

Can be reduced to 1/3 with early diagnosis and intervention

Integrated approach

Our product

SocioBotix Socially Assistive Robotics

Special EducationDept. UoM

Vygotsky - Bruner“Scaffolding”

ARRoW methodAssist Relations Robotic Workfellow

Social Flower robotDaisy

Avatar – “Transitional object” (Freud)

Feasibility

1. R-A2. R-A-E3. R-A-E-T4. R-A-T5. A-T

ARRoW method

Social skills - Inclusion

Target demographic• Educator• Speech therapist• Occupational

therapist• Physiotherapist• Psychologist• Care giver• Family members

Uniquely designed for our users’ needs

Reduce intimidation, stress, fear, unexpected

Personalized learning Delicacy/fears, Special abilities, Special inabilities

Robot’s personality optimal adaptation to kid(variant in place, time, context)

Lack of ASD typical behavior model

Exploitation of educator’s Experience/specialization

ASD framework

Physical contact

Tangible activities

Activities’diversity

Guidance for successfulTechnology Enhanced Learning

implementation

Reducestress of

unexpected

Activities’diversity

StrengthenEducator’s role

Ease of use

AdaptableEducational

tool

Educators, Therapists, Family

Multimodal implementationsSchool

TherapyFamily

Conducted studies

Conducted studies

Conducted studies

SocioBotix – basic key facts

EERI the Duckling

2011 2013

Social Flower Work-Fellow

ARRoW method studies

2015

Proof of Concept Beginning of sales

Scientific Announcements

Vocational training programs

First purchase –Rotary club

Equipment Supplier contract

US National Council on Rehabilitation Education

Marketing StrategySeekingStrategic International co-operations

1st Year

2nd Year

3rd Year

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

SalesVocational Training

Leonidas with his work-fellow today…

Let us lend a hand

towards inclusion