Cover Letter

Dear Portfolio Readers,

 

The end of the semester is finally here. This class was very different than what I thought it would be. I have never participated in a class that was conducted over a blog. It has been an overall new and learning experience. This class has shown me that there are other ways of learning. The professor broke down robots in various situations and aspects. I believe that I met all the requirements for this class to the best of my ability. I was able to reflect on the professor’s comments and peer-reviews. Holly Pappas was a great professor and gave me a chance to revise my work. Using this feedback to form my drafts into a stronger structure. Making my writing flow much better and become more understandable.

The first essay that I believe was my strongest was “Painting with Love.” This was one of our first assignments of the semester. I enjoyed this writing exercise because I was able to write about what I wanted. It did not really involve robots or technology. It meant a lot to me to be able to write about something and someone I love. The final draft was one of my best grades in this class. There were specific details that were spread throughout each paragraph. There was also dialogue between me and my great grandfather to reflect our relationship together.

The second essay that I chose was titled “Robots Taking Over.” This was the third essay of the semester. The article “Welcoming Our New Robot Overlords” described peoples’ point of views on robots working with them in the workplace. I was able to take accurate notes and summarize the article into my own words. There were quotations inserted that supported my writing. I used the author’s name and the title of the article correctly. There was also the correct amount of words used for the assignment 

The last essay that I chose was about robots interacting with autistic children. I believe that this was my weakest writing of the semester. It was one of the lowest grades that I obtained in this class. There were some serious errors that were made at the beginning. I was able to improve my writing and fulfill the instructions. There were 5 citations that were provided in MLA format. They were also accompanied by in-text citations for quotations as well. The work cited was titled properly and included information for source credibility. This was a very helpful learning experience in the end. I was able to fix my mistakes and enhance my well-written essay.  

In conclusion, I believe all the essays that I have chosen are great examples of my accomplishments. They prove that I have successfully completed all the requirements for English 101. There were many positive aspects that I have outlined. Developing and enhancing the way that I learn and write. This class has been challenging, but it was a new learning experience. I have evolved throughout this semester, and will continue to excel throughout my education.    

Best Regards,

Casondra Felton

Painting with Love (Essay 1)

When I was growing up, I would love to paint with my grandfather. We would always hang out in the garage. It was a small and tidy area with one window. All the walls were painted with beautiful miniature colorful landscapes accompanied by Native Americans. The car would be parked in the driveway and out of the way, so we can have more room. His rusty tools were all organized and filled the entire left side of the garage. It was like his own little peaceful sanctuary where no one could bother him. After school, we would grab some snacks and hang out. The one thing that we would love to do together is paint. He taught me how to paint since I was 2-years-old. We were in the newspaper together for a painting we did together. It was our own little ritual that made our bond unbreakable. On dark stormy days or hot summer days, we would paint our hearts out a care in the world.

The first thing that he would get is a canvas. He would pick out a big white canvas that was bigger than me. It was the platform for my work of art. The beginning of a beautiful mosaic of my own, that I would cherish with me throughout the rest of my life. I would always get so excited to paint with my grandpa. His head was filled with knowledge from decades of experience. He would set the canvas up straight and steady on an easel for me. The easel was made of old cherry oak and was wobbly. The screws were rusted that held it together. My grandfather would make sure that it was adjusted to my height. Moving it up and down until it was adjusted to the proper position.

Then I would decide what paint brush I wanted to use. There were so many different types to choose. My grandfather taught me how to use them all. There were some that were small, and others that were big. Most of their bristles were worn but they were all still usable. I always started off using my favorite paint brush first. It was a small pink brush with silver sparkles. My grandfather had given me it as a present for my 5th Birthday. I cherished it with all my heart, body, mind, and soul. It was fraying away at the top and losing its texture, but I still loved it. It has as much value to me as the first day I laid eyes on it.

There was a wooden palette that my grandfather received as a gift from his father a long time ago. He would let me use it when I was painting in the garage. It was made from cherry oak and was as solid as a rock. He would always laugh and say that it was unbreakable. He had it for such a long time and could tell so many stories about it. There were so many memories engraved into that one little piece of wood. It had circle pockets where the paint would go in. I liked it because it stopped the colors from mixing together. My grandfather liked it because it didn’t make such a big mess. There was also a handle that made it easy to hold onto while painting a masterpiece. I offered to buy my grandpa a new one, but he prefers it just the way it was.

The most important component that I needed was the fluid acrylic paint. I loved looking at all the different colors one by one. Picking out what colors I wanted to use. Taking my time to observe and pick out which colors I wanted to use. My grandfather had pretty much every color imaginable. I loved to read out all the unique names that they would label different colors like, “Rose Red and Everest Green.” I would watch grandpa pour every drop of paint into its individual slots. It was like watching a game of Operation. He would place the paint so carefully into the pallet. It almost looked like he was somehow performing surgery, so delicate and precise all at the same time.

The last thing that my grandfather grabbed was a cup of water. This was the cleansing process that makes a work of art possible. Without water, colors would unwillingly mix together. No artist wants that to happen. That would be a disaster and I was not looking to ruin a beautiful white canvas. We always joked about how the water turned black at the end. “No matter how many colors or what type of colors you put it. The water was always the same shade of grossness at the end,” my grandpa would say. Whenever the water became too dirty, he would get new water.

“Looks like we are ready to paint sweetheart. I love watching you paint. It brings me so much joy,” he would say with a big wrinkly smile. “I love you to Papa, I will paint you a beautiful masterpiece to hang up in your room!” I was so excited to finally paint. I would start jumping and dancing around all around the garage. Once I settled down, I would sit down on a little stool with a torn black leather seat. I would pick up my pink sparkly paint brush and gently place it into the paint. While taking a deep breath I would close my eyes. Thinking about what I wanted to paint. Trying to imagine a beautiful piece scene that would catch my interest. As I dwelled on what I wanted to paint an image passed through my mind. Revealing a beautiful waterfall with crystal clear water. There were colorful flowers blooming all around. I could almost smell their perfumes flow through the room. I could almost taste the crispy clean spring flowing through the mountain tops. My body, mind, and spirit were all connected in that one moment. When I opened my eyes, I was ready to take on the big blank canvas.

As my hand lifted, I could feel my heart quicken. The paint touched the canvas and it seemed like they were melting together. Two colors forming an unbreakable connection. There was no turning back and what was done was done. As I dunked my paintbrush into the water, I watched it turn the water a light green. As I stared at the water, I thought about my canvas hanging up on the wall of the garage. A new painting on the side of the old painting, and a new generation following the old generation. There was a bond that was undeniable unbreakable. Our family would live on throughout these painting. Framing endless stories with many meaning and details for the whole world to see. The paintbrush went swiftly back into the paint that was securely contained in the wooden pallet. It was like they were meant to be together. My grandfather would sit quietly while he watched me concentrate. Guiding me when needed as he continued to do throughout my life, till the day that he died.

 

Robots Taking Over (Essay 2)

Robots Taking Over

In the article “Welcoming Our New Robot Overlords” by Sheelah Kolhatkar shows how robots have dramatically affected the manufacturing industry and workforce. There have been issues and mixed-feelings regarding robots entering the workplace. Various positive and negative aspects should be taken into consideration. Some workers encourage the enhancement of technology Some employees are worried about losing their jobs. Others encourage the new technology and find it less stressful.

A few workers that have been employed for a while were interviewed. Most of the workers said that technology has changed their jobs dramatically. They enjoy having robots working by their side. Workers feel that their jobs are much easier now. There were fewer people on the crew that had to be supervised. There was also less of a chance that mistakes would happen. The robots would make sure that their work was correct. If any errors were made, they would be unable to continue.

When the robots would malfunction, people would be there to fix them. These individuals are required to have technical degrees to work in this position. Some high school graduates would be hired to document data. There has been a growing concern for having coverage for others during absences. Some employees have been forced to work and unable to take time off. These people did as they were told because they were afraid that they would lose their jobs.

Unfortunately, employees’ pay ended up decreasing with robots taking over the workforce. Employees of the Steelcase Industry were known to live comfortable lives. They spent money on lake houses and the extravagant things in life. They were also given college and exception benefits for their families. Company picnic and tournament held to show the company owners’ appreciation to their employees. Now they do not get as much praise as they did prior. The internet was also a big factor in the decline of the Steelcase industry and jobs. Many other people and industries were able to promote and sell their office supplies online. This caused many of the stores to close and relocate to Mexico.

There are various advantages to using robots within industries. This method will save a bunch of time and money for industries. Owners would be able to stay up to date and maintain control of their productions. Another benefit of using robots is that they can work in any type of environment. They are very adaptable and can be reprogrammed to your preference. There is a lower chance that people would get hurt on the job. Robots do most of the work while people monitor them.

I personally would rather have humans working for me instead of all robots. It is better to have human contact while on the job. I believe it would be more effective to have a balanced atmosphere at a workplace. Having half robots and half humans working side by side in the same facilities would be ideal. Employing human being is better for society and customer service.

It is also sad to consider how technology has made it harder for high school graduates. Not everyone can afford to go to college. Some people need jobs to take care of their family and daily living expenses. It also takes a lot a willpower and time to obtain a degree. What will people do for jobs while they are in college? It is also important to remember that man-made things are made to break. They cost so much money to buy them and so much money to keep them running right. If a machine breaks unexpectedly it can slow down production and cause you to lose even more money.

Technology has changed and affected our lives dramatically. Even in school, the way that we learn has been enhanced to a whole different level. There is limited contact with professors and classmates. There is barely any more face to face contact. Even in the work field, there is more technology contact than human contact. Either over the phone, on the internet, sending an invoice, sending a text there are many ways to stay connected.  Making human-like robots will be the next enhancement to customer service and handling in the manufacturing field. It will also be very helpful for wealthy individuals that can afford to have them at home. They can clean up your house and become a close companion.

In conclusion, this article about robots in the workplace was filled with real facts. Robots have and will continue to take over our lives. Maybe one day there will be robots in the kitchen cooking salads. What will we do when there are no more jobs to be done? Will there be robot doctors? There are many disadvantage and advantages of having robots in the work field and in our lives. This article did show some key points about robots becoming the overlords.

Robots with Autistic Children (Essay 3)

 Robots with Autistic Children

 

Children with autism often have difficulty expressing their emotions, wants and needs. Scientists are adamant to find a way to enhance the interaction between caregivers, children, friends, parents, and other family members. Robots can help children with autism learn how to communicate and interact with others. They have been found to appear more comfortable around robots and open-up to them quickly. Robots are helping break through the barrier of silence.

There have been various studies observing the interaction of robots during the diagnosis and treatment of autistic children. Groups of scientists gather together to evaluate people with ASD and their interaction with robots. Some of the experiments consist of observing how children responded to robot behavior, instead of human behavior. They observed the stimulation of certain behavioral enhances with the robots. These machines were able to teach new skills to children. At the end, the group of scientists would review the results. It essential to look over the data thoroughly and with no rush. In most of the experiments people showed a positive impact from robot interaction.

These robots would respond and interact back and forth with children. Encouraging them and praising them if they did something right. The children were overall excited to work with robots. “When you are interacting with a person, there are a lot of social cues such as facial expressions, tonality of the voice, and movement of the body which are overwhelming and distracting for children with autism,” said the cofounder of LuxAI. (Waltz) It was a broader spectrum instead of the everyday human interaction. Many children were able to process new information quickly. The robots will also interact repeatedly without getting tired, frustrated, or upset. They remain active and focused throughout each session.

Robots interact with autistic children in groups or individually. They can have fun and learn at the same time. The children believe that they are just playing but, they are learning new things. These robots were able to gain autistic children’s attention quickly and helped keep them interested. This method was a great way to get the children to connect and communicate. Many parents are amazed by the progress their children have made with the help of robots. Scientists have stated that, “The robots use artificial intelligence, which analyzes the children’s behavior and uses that data to adapt to how to engage them.” (Dong) Most of the children understood quickly how the robots worked. They also were amazed by how it moved and communicated with them. All the children were very happy and showed effective responses to the treatment. When the robot would dance it would surprise some of these children at first. Then they would start dancing and singing along with the robot.

Robots can also help with tantrums and outbursts. The robots are programmed with built-in calming techniques. This helps autistic children stabilize their moods and emotions. There are also human like robots developed to accommodate

certain aspects. There have been studies that say, “Things like decreased facial features and human traits can help to bridge the gap between people with ASD and robots and engage learners in communication and social skills.” (Williams) These robots help develop communication emotions and feelings among autistic children. There are also robots that can speak different languages to help many different nationalities.

There are still some improvements that could be made to further enhance these methods. People are concerned that, “the child can do things – such as slap himself – that the robot will copy and possibly break. So we tend to use this third mode as entertainment only.” (Tucker) There could be double-sided cards instead of one-sided. Children would just end up looking at one side of the flashcard. They were not aware to flip the card over to the correct side. Some parents also feel that robots should speak slower. There are also some negative aspects to take into consideration. While many children showed positive results there were some children that had negative reactions. It is also essential that children have human contact. It is unrealistic to believe that any child would take pleasure out of spending a bunch of their time with robots.

The main goal of the studies is to get the children to react and communicate. Exposing them to new things and new surroundings. These experiments do not encourage fear or stress. They allow children to connect more and express themselves to the best of their abilities. Robots can teach autistic children new activities quickly and efficiently. These studies have been found more effective than using tablets and computers. Scientists still believe that, “research in this area is in its infancy, and further research is needed to determine the incremental validity of this approach.” (Diehl 249-262) These methods will be evolving over time and become even more effective.

Work Cited:

1.) Diehl, Joshua J et al. “The Clinical Use of Robots for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Critical Review” Research in autism spectrum disorders vol. 6,1 (2012): 249-262., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3223958/

This is a study performed by multiple scientists to observe the treatments and diagnosis of children with autism. There were various contradictions throughout each type of experiment researched. They were unable to establish a conclusive discovery with their findings.

2.) Williams, Andrew. “Robots Help Teachers STEM Concepts to Students with Autism” Robotics Business (May 03, 2018) https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/consumer/robots-help-teach-stem-to-students-with-autism

This article shows how robots are used to assist autistic children and teachers in school. This method helps them learn how to solve problems. Teachers and adults have found this teaching practice to be very effective with most of the children. There are some children that have negative results.

 

3.) Waltz, Emily et al. “Therapy Robot Teaches Social Skills to Children with Autism” IEEE Spectrum (August 9th, 2018) https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/devices/robot-therapy-for-autism

This article showed the impact of robots in the classroom setting. Specific manufacturers and products were discussed in further details. There were different videos to observe the children’s reactions.

4.) Tucker, Eleanor. “How Robots are Helping Children with Autism” The Guardian (February 1, 2015) https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/01/how-robots-helping-children-with-autism

This article breaks down what robots have that humans don’t. They use specific situations and details to express their beliefs. There are other aspects that are discussed regarding the concerns from using robots.

5.) Dong, Xiumei et al. “Robot Helps Social Skills for Autistic Children” USA Today (April 26, 2016) https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/04/26/robot-helps-social-skills-autistic-children/83554568/

This article discusses a certain robot and how it interacts with children. The author also explains how the robot works. Showing how the robot works and processes their surroundings.

 

 

 

Essay 4 – Rough Draft – Robots Assisting Researcher Exploring the Ocean

The subject that I chose for my essay is about robots assisting researchers in the ocean. Robots have been exploring underwater with scientists for many years. The first robot was manufactured about 15 years ago. These robots were originally built from the ground up. There were an abundant amount of time, effort and people that were put into this development and manufacturing. They started off being programmed with basic features. This consisted of limited data collection and movements. They were only able to move in one specific direction with minimum range. Humans controlled their every move from land. They were able to explore underwater through the eyes of the robots. Technology has evolved substantially over the years, and scientific equipment is becoming more advanced.

There new engineered robots now that can effectively explore the deep blue seas. They can function and move around all by themselves. With the ability to conduct more accurate data in a much quicker time frame. Programmed to thoroughly observe their surrounding for new and unique things. When the robots find anything abnormal, they would send an alert to the human workers. I do believe that robots would be a good replacement for humans on the job. The robots are also able to go deeper depths than humans or submarines. Humans face many obstacles when exploring underwater expeditions. They are time restricted due to low oxygen levels and poor equipment. They could also face life-threatening dangers if they are not careful. Wander too deep would cause the pressure to crush a human’s body like a soda can. These new robots can endure the most treacherous conditions imaginable. With this new advanced technology, scientists are becoming able to search unknown areas under the water.

There are specialized humanoid robots that have two arms and claw-like hands. They are very expensive to manufacture and maintain. They do not need any supervision while working. Their hands make them able to capture living organism and bring them back for further analysis. Engineered to make decisions on their own and act upon them. With this ability, the robots would be able to determine what direction they would go. The robots’ structures can withstand various temperatures and pressures. They are manufactured in many different shapes and sizes. There are specialized sensors located on the robots to keep track of their surroundings. Multiple cameras are also securely attached that are programmed to take continuous pictures. Scientists analyze each photograph individually later, observing them in precise details.

This technology opens the door to many new possibilities. Marine scientists see these self-sufficient robots as a revolutionary breakthrough. There are certain species that have been observed in areas that they are not known to normal habitat. These humanoid robots have amazing searching abilities and help map out our underwater world. There are historical shipwrecks that can be potentially found by using this technology. Many missing treasures lie deep beneath the dark ocean floor waiting to be found.

There are also environmental and climate factors that can be positively impacted using this new technology. These robots can detect and notify the proper authorities of any oil spills. This technology would also help us find essential resources like various metals and other components. Different robots would work together to obtain the material. One would cut and the other would collect the material and bring it back to land. There are also similar robots manufactured that defend and fix our marine wildlife. Many animals are dying every day from waste and unpredictable climate changes. With this equipment, scientists can record and observe areas in depth. Taking measurements of waves and their movements. Assembling data much faster and sufficiently with less effort. This will allow scientist to have more time doing hands-on work in the laboratories.

Scientists are also trying to develop robots that work together with drones. This would expand our capability to explore an area in a quick amount of time. This would be very useful equipment for search and rescue missions. People would be able to find victims much faster and effectively. Self-navigating military submarines are also being manufactured to potential assist with securing our country. It has been said that “unlike submarines, which are limited ability to take delicate samples, and have tools that require extensive training to use, Ocean One is controlled by haptic joysticks, letting its operators feel the lightness or heaviness of whatever objects it’s holding, thus giving researchers a much more hands-on feel.” These big intellectual machines would be used for surveillance all around the world. Keeping an eye out for anything abnormal or threatening. They would also be used to safely assist with finding and defusing mines. Many soldiers have lost their lives or limbs by triggering hidden mines. This method would save many lives and allow soldiers to perform other duties.

There are a few issues with using and manufacturing these humanoid robots. One of the problems is that it takes a long time to transfer data through the water. Robots contain a bunch of data that must be continuously transferred back and forth. Scientists have been trying to work hard to find an effective solution. There is also the issue of the robots being expensive to purchase, manufacture, and maintain. Scientists anticipate finding a way to make robots more cost-effective. This would make more people interested and eager to obtain this new technology to enhance their homes, lives, and workplaces. I also do not believe that scientist jobs would be affected negatively by this technology uprise. Instead, it should benefit them in a few different ways. They will be given more time to do more extensive and hand on work in their facilities. There will be less running around and less room for mistakes to be made. This new advanced technology will be a great way to improve our community, environment, and military forces.

Citing

1.)  “The ‘Curious’ Robots Searching for the Ocean’s Secrets”

The Atlantic (February 23, 2017)

By: Erica Cirino

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/02/under-the-sea-3-p-o/517425/

 

2.)  “4 Ways Robots Will Lead Ocean Exploration”

ASME.org (November 2017)

By: Melissa Hebert

https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/robotics/4-ways-robots-lead-ocean-exploration

 

3.)  “Humanoid Robots Can Dive Deep Underwater, Exploring Reefs and Shipwrecks”

Popular Science (April 28, 2016)

By: Mary Beth Griggs

https://www.popsci.com/humanoid-robot-can-dive-deep-underwater-exploring-reefs-and-shipwrecks

 

 

 

 

Robot Policemen

The article that I reviewed was “Why Robots do not Belong on the Beat,” by Courtney. The author wrote about robot policemen in the line of duty. The main thesis statement for this article is regarding the author’s concerns for robots in the law enforcement field. Technology has affected many aspects of our everyday lives. Robots have substantially evolved and are being considered as potential police officers. She believes that “the position should be held in majority by the flesh and blood police officers.” There were various key reasons that support the author’s writing.

•    Robots do not have any perception of human behaviors and are unable to express emotions. They cannot emotionally relate to human being in certain situations. This is a key factor in all police departments. They do not feel and do not know how to portray emotions.   

•    There are serious situations that robots would encounter on the line of duty. Robots are overall unable to make quick plausible decisions. This can be critical in suicide and hostage situations. There are concerns about that there quick thinking and decision-making abilities. How will robots be programmed to react in fast-track situations?    

•    There are specific details and dates that demonstrate the history of technology. This shows how they have evolved over time. Robots were initially used in the military to help soldiers on the battlefield.

•    There is a concern for the funding to sustain and equip robots in police departments. This would be overall cost-effective and bankrupt the community. This could also have a major negative impact on the economy.

•    The author also believes that robots are helpful for bomb handling. This method saves many lives and is used by many police departments and militaries around the world.   

Final Draft – Essay 3 – Using Robots with Autistic Children

Children with autism often have difficulty expressing their emotions, wants and needs. Scientists are adamant to find a way to enhance the interaction between caregivers, children, friends, parents, and other family members. Robots can help children with autism learn how to communicate and interact with others. They have been found to appear more comfortable around robots and open up to them quickly. Robots are helping break through the barrier of silence.

There have been various studies observing the interaction of robots during the diagnosis and treatment of autistic children. There are usually four categories designed to break down certain aspects. The first experiment observed how children responded to robot behavior instead of human behavior. The second experiment consisted of using robots to stimulate certain behaviors. The third experiment used robots to teach new skills to children. The fourth experiment was very important and involved looking over the data that was obtained. “There is evidence that some individuals with ASD prefer robots to non-robotic toys or humans,” this was suggested by Dautenhahn and some fellow colleagues.

Scientists have stated that children need these robots because they are “a cute, tech-based intermediary, with a body, that can teach them how to more comfortably interact with their fellow humans.” The robots would respond and interact back with the children. Encouraging them and praising them if they did something right. The children were overall excited to work with robots instead of humans. The robots will also interact over and over again without getting tired, frustrated, or upset. They remain active and focused throughout each session. These robots can also speak in different languages so they can accommodate almost every cultural background.

I believe that using robots to help children with mathematics is an innovative enhancement in education. This can be very beneficial at helping each child learn at their own pace. There are specialized robots developed to assist children with math equations. The robot knows when a problem is solved and automatically goes on to the next one. They also praise and encourage the children throughout each problem. “As schools around the world look for ways to better teach science, technology, engineering, and math to students. Many teachers are finding that robots can help teach STEM concepts to children with autism because of their physical nature and consistent behavior.” There are also other robots that assist with mazes and weighing objects. Some of the companies that invest in this educational robots are Dell, LuXAI, Bluefrog Robotics, and many other companies worldwide. They are very expensive to produce and provide a lot of time and effort.

Robots interact with autistic children in groups or individually. They can have fun and learn at the same time. The children believe that they are just playing but in actuality, they are learning new things. These robots were able to gain autistic children’s attention quickly and helped keep them interested. Normal objects that we tend to see every day may be seen as foreign to many autistic children. It is important to develop a stable routine to enhance their development.  This method was a great way to get the children to open up and communicate. Many parents are amazed by the progress their children have made with the help of robots. Most of the children understood quickly how the robots worked. They also were amazed by how it moved and communicated with them. All of the children were very happy and showed effective responses to the treatment. When the robot would dance it would surprise some of this children at first. Then they would start dancing and singing along with the robot.

Robots can also help out with tantrums and outbursts. The robots are programmed with built-in calming techniques. This helps autistic children stabilize their moods and emotions. There are also human like robots developed to accommodate certain aspects. They show less facial expressions and are able to express a variety of human traits. These robots help develop communication emotions and feelings among autistic children. There are also robots that can speak different languages to help many different nationalities.

There are still some improvements that could be made to further enhance these methods. There could be double-sided cards instead of one-sided. Some parents also feel that robots should speak slower. There are also some negative aspects to take into consideration. While many children showed positive results there were some children that had negative reactions. It is also essential that children have human contact. It is unrealistic to believe that any child would take pleasure out of spending a bunch of their time with robots.

The main goal of the studies is to get the children to react and communicate. Exposing them to new things and new surroundings. These experiments do not encourage fear or stress. They allow children to open up more and express themselves to the best of their abilities. Robots are able to teach autistic children new activities quickly and efficiently. These studies have been found more effective than using tablets and computers. These methods will evolving over time and become even more effective.

 

Resources (Annotated Bib):

1.) The Clinical Use of Robots for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Critical Review

By: Joshua J. Diehl, Lauren M. Schmitt, Michael Villano, and Charles R. Crowell – Jan 1st, 2013

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3223958/

This is a study performed by multiple scientists to observe the treatments and diagnosis of children with autism. There were various contradictions throughout each type of experiment researched. They were unable to establish a conclusive discovery with their findings.

2.) Robots Help Teachers STEM Concepts to Students with Autism

By: Andrew Williams – Posted: May 03, 2018

Robots Help Teach STEM Concepts to Students With Autism

This article shows how robots are used to assist autistic children and teachers in school. This method helps them learn how to solve problems. Teachers and adults have found this teaching practice to be very effective with most of the children. There are some children that have negative results.

3.) Therapy Robot Teaches Social Skills To Children with Autism

By: Emily Waltz – August 9th, 2018

https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/devices/robot-therapy-for-autism

This article discusses how robots are used to help children with autism interact. They are able to learn how to communicate their emotions and feelings. This method keeps most student stay motivated and eager to learn new things. 

 

3 Sentences – Essay 1

Original Sentences

  • “It was very cozy, and the entire walls were painted with beautiful colorful landscape.”
  • “He would also make sure it was adjusted to my height, so I would not have to struggle.”
  • “My grandfather had given it to me as a present.”

Revised Sentences

  • “It was a small and tidy area with one window.”
  • “My grandfather would make sure that it was adjusted to my height.”
  • “My grandfather had given it to me as a present for my 5th Birthday.”

 

Brief Explanation:

  • The essay that I chose for this assignment was Essay 1. The revision version is better than the original in various ways. There were some grammar and punctuation issues that were resolved. More specific details and quotations were added. A few sentences were changed and enhanced to establish a better understanding. The new essay flowed much better and was well structured.

Peer Review – Essay 3

I reviewed Courtney’s Essay 3 on “Robots Working With Autism.” The paragraphs were filled with specific details. The writer also gave examples of specific robots and manufacturers. There were quotes from the main parts of the articles referenced. The information was overall accurate and flowed well. I was able to understand the main message of the essay clearly. There were citations but they were not in the text. There were also some grammar issues that I observed throughout the Essay. I did not observe any intentional or unintentional plagiarism.

Essay 3 – Rough Draft – Using Robots with Autistic Children

There have been various studies observing the interaction of robots during the diagnosis and treatment of autistic children. There are usually four categories designed to break down certain aspects. The first experiment observed how children responded to robot behavior instead of human behavior. The second experiment consisted of using robots to stimulate certain behaviors. The third experiment used robots to teach new skills to children. The fourth experiment was very important and involved looking over the data that was obtained. “There is evidence that some individuals with ASD prefer robots to non-robotic toys or humans,” this was suggest by Dautenhahn and some fellow colleagues. (“US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Medicine”)

Children with autism often have difficulty expressing their emotions, wants and needs. Scientists are adamant to find a way to enhance the interaction between caregivers, children, friends, parents, and other family members. Robots can help children with autism learn how to communicate and interact with others. They have been found to appear more comfortable around robots and open up to them quickly. Robots are helping break through the barrier of silence.

Scientists have stated that children need these robots because they are “a cute, tech-based intermediary, with a body, that can teach them how to more comfortably interact with their fellow humans.” (“IEEE Spectrum”)The robots would respond and interact back with the children. Encouraging them and praising them if they did something right. The children were overall excited to work with robots instead of humans. The robots will also interact over and over again without getting tired, frustrated, or upset. They remain active and focused throughout each session. These robots can also speak in different languages so they can accommodate almost every cultural background.

“As schools around the world look for ways to better teach science, technology, engineering, and math to students. Many teachers are finding that robots can help teach STEM concepts to children with autism because of their physical nature and consistent behavior.” (“Robots Business Review”) There are specialized robots developed to assist children with math equations. The robot knows when a problem is solved and automatically goes on to the next one. They also praise and encourage the children throughout each problem. There are also other robots that assist with mazes and weighing objects. Some of the companies that invest in this educational robots are Dell, LuXAI, Bluefrog Robotics, and many other companies worldwide. They are very expensive to produce and provide a lot of time and effort.

Many of the studies have participated in school settings. Robots interact with autistic children in groups or individually. They can have fun and learn at the same time. The children believe that they are just playing but in actuality, they are learning new things. These robots were able to gain autistic children’s attention quickly and helped keep them interested.

Normal objects that we tend to see every day may be seen as foreign to many autistic children. They see and comprehend things differently than other children. It is important to develop a stable routine to enhance their development. Scientists have put together studies that observe autistic children with robots. They have set up scenarios to play out. The child would play one role and the robot would play the other. It was a great way to get the children to open up and communicate. Many parents are amazed by the progress their children have made with the help of robots.

Most of the children were automatically curious about the robots and were eager to interact with them. They all understood quickly how the robots worked. They also were amazed by how it moved and communicated with them. All of the children were very happy and showed effective responses to the treatment. When the robot would dance it would surprise some of this children at first. Then they would start dancing and singing along with the robot.

Robots can also help out with tantrums and outbursts. The robots are programmed with built-in calming techniques. This helps autistic children stabilize their moods and emotions. There are also human like robots developed to accommodate certain aspects. They show less facial expressions and are able to express a variety of human traits. These robots help develop communication and social skills among autistic children. There are also robots that can speak different languages.

There are still some improvements that could be made to further enhance these methods. There could be double-sided cards instead of one-sided. Some parents also feel that the robots should speak slower. There are also some negative aspects to take into consideration. While many children showed positive results there were some children that had negative reactions. It is also essential that children have human contact. It is unrealistic to believe that any child would take pleasure out of spending a bunch of their time with robots.

The main goal of the studies is to get the children to react and communicate. Exposing them to new things and new surroundings. These experiments do not encourage fear or stress. They allow children to open up more and express themselves to the best of their abilities. Robots are able to teach autistic children new activities quickly and efficiently. These studies have been found more effective than using tablets and computers. These method with evolve overtime and become even more effective.