Abstract
This study aimed (1) to examine the contribution of robot ZORA in achieving therapeutic and educational goals in rehabilitation and special education for children with severe physical disabilities, and (2) to discover the roles professionals attribute to robot ZORA when it is used in robot-based play interventions in rehabilitation and special education for children with severe physical disabilities. A multi-centre mixed methods study was conducted among children with severe physical disabilities in two centres for rehabilitation and one school for special education. The participating children played with robot ZORA six times during a period of 6 weeks, in individual or group sessions. Quantitative data were gathered about the contribution of ZORA in reaching individual goals for all of the participating children, using the Individually Prioritized Problem Assessment (IPPA). Playfulness was measured with a visual analogue scale (0–10) and children could indicate whether they liked the sessions using a scale consisting of smileys. Video-stimulated recall interviews were used to collect qualitative data about the different roles of ZORA. In total, 33 children and 12 professionals participated in the study. The results of the IPPA showed a significant contribution of ZORA to the achievement of (children’s) individual goals. The data gathered using the IPPA during the ZORA-based interventions showed that the largest contributions of robot ZORA lie in the domains of movement skills and communication skills. Playfulness of the sessions was 7.5 on average and 93% of the sessions were evaluated as ‘enjoyable’ by the children. Overall, ZORA could positively contribute to the achievement of individual goals for children with severe physical disabilities. According to the participating professionals the most promising roles in which robot ZORA can be used are motivator, rewarder or instructor.
Highlights
Robots are becoming more and more advanced, their presence in society is increasing, and they have great potential to improve our daily lives at home, at work and in play
The aim of this study was to examine to what extend individual goals within the domains of movement, communication and cognitive skills can be achieved using robot ZORA and to examine the different roles in which ZORA can be applied in therapeutic and educational sessions for children with severe physical disabilities
The results of this study indicate that ZORA-based intervention sessions contribute to the achievement of goals of children with severe physical disabilities, especially in the domains of movement skills and communication skills
Summary
Robots are becoming more and more advanced, their presence in society is increasing, and they have great potential to improve our daily lives at home, at work and in play. There is increased attention for the possible role of robots in health and care and generally there is an expectation that robots will play a role in future healthcare. ZORA is an example of a popular robot, commercially available in the Netherlands since March 2014. The popularity of applying ZORA in health care is increasing, and currently the robot is available on the market in several countries. ZORA has often been used in elderly care. A study in the Netherlands in 15 elderly homes found that clients enjoyed using ZORA and that the robot had positive influences on the behaviour of the residents. Positive influences were experienced by many of the professionals who worked with ZORA—two-thirds of them had more fun at work—but clear goals for applications of ZORA and the role
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
