Japanese School Tests Robot Teacher

Students at the Kudan Elementary School in downtown Tokyo were told a special teacher would help them with their science class.

But few expected the teacher would need three grown men to help her up to the podium or need special programming to talk.

Saya, the substitute teacher, is a robot.

Built by Professor Hiroshi Kobayashi of Tokyo University of Science, he says shes not meant to take away the jobs of teachers.

[Hiroshi Kobayashi, Tokyo University Professor]:
"We are not looking at making something that will take over teachers, but rather our main reason for building this robot is to use new technology to teach children about technology."

But Saya may be able to help in schools where there is a shortage of teachers.

[Hiroshi Kobayashi, Tokyo University Professor]:
"In the countryside and in some small schools, there are children who do not have the opportunity to come into contact with new technology, and also there are few teachers out there that can teach these lessons, so we also hope to be able to develop this robot so it can be remotely controlled to teach these classes."

Saya, was a hit with the children.

[Nanako Iijima, Student]:
"Its so much more fun than regular classes."

Most students were mesmerized by the robot.

[Masaru Tabata, Student]:
"It was great seeing the robot moving and speaking."

But the class teacher was not convinced Saya was ready to go full time.

[Akito Fukuda, Science Teacher]:
"I think on the one hand I am impressed that they've got robots to go this far, but on the other hand they still have a long way to research before they create a truly robotic teacher."

The curiosity of the children did not stop after the class.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Students
• Kudan
• Elementary
• School
• downtown
• Tokyo
• programming
• robot
• teacher
• Professor
• building
• technology
• children

[GrimmShadow]

WHERE IS JOHN CONNOR?

[sosocooiam2]

and terminator starts...

[vartotrad]

It would be fun if the robot became able to teach but not very smart so students would say stupid things and the robot wouldn't understand. For instance, students would ask politely if she would like to please (insert obscene request or swearing) and she would not get mad.

[FAProductions236]

A T-600 in real Life? They're too easy to spot by humans. Creepy...

[happinesson]

this is now being used in Japan! good robotic engineer!

[tirsahiz]

she is like a ghost lol

[WeiLiLong10]

I remember seeing her on "What the Ancients Knew" the episode about Japan

[Nicci736]

That is so creepy.

[NarutoRocks2011]

@KCZ95 united states gets a tornado

[ClassicalSquaresoft]

noooooooo noooooooooooooooooo we do need robot teachers... the ones at my high school are bad.

[miss101crowngirl]

Imagine pinching your teachers nose LOL!!!

[KEVINSAWESOME1]

if u rip her face off she will look likee t 100 and willl be frightend its just a robot. u can screw around with it wat is it gonna do? lol