Stanbridge University is pleased to announce the addition of QTrobot to its Robotics and Intelligent Sciences Lab. An innovative platform for human-AI research and training, QTrobot will help Stanbridge graduate students create specific modules and activities in areas of occupational therapy practice, education, and research.
Developed by European company LuxAI, QTrobot uses facial expressions, gesture recognition, and interactive games to augment traditional therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder.
“Stanbridge students will learn the significance of using social robots in occupational therapy interventions,” explained Dr. Shain Davis, an Occupational Therapy program faculty member and thesis advisor. “Some autistic individuals may have more difficulty reading social-communicative gestures or nuances. With QTrobot, Stanbridge students will learn how to bridge that disconnect through simplicity, consistency, and clearer facial expressions.”
As part of their experiential learning, Stanbridge students will study how social robotics can help patients build a solid foundation for improving expressive communication skills, before translating the applications to a faculty practice clinic during their fieldwork experience. Students will also use QTrobot as an aid in teaching basic occupations such as clothing management skills.
“Stanbridge University is excited to see the integration of social robotics into our curricula,” said Yasith Weerasuriya, President of Stanbridge University. “With emerging research in the use of social robots in patients with Alzheimer’s, this technology has the potential to transform the occupational therapy treatment landscape across the human lifespan. We are excited to see what differences our students will make.”
Stanbridge University is an award-winning private institution that offers degrees in nursing and allied health in Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange County. To learn more about Stanbridge University, please visit www.stanbridge.edu.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please call Sarah Hamilton at (949) 794-9090 ext. 5266, or email shamilton@stanbridge.edu
