Robot helps sick schoolboy

Stepan, a plastic robot, is in the classroom to help a little boy with leukaemia to follow lessons through his eyes.

MOSCOW: A very special student is attending a lesson at Moscow’s school number 166: Stepan, a plastic robot, is in the classroom to help a little boy with leukaemia to follow the lesson through his eyes.

In the meantime, the real Stepan, a 12-year-old boy, sits in front of a computer at his home and takes an active part in the lesson with help of his plastic friend.

Stepan Supin has been suffering from leukaemia for tha past two years and his immune system is too fragile to allow him to leave home. Equipped with a webcam, a microphone and a loudspeaker, the robot broadcasts in real time what happens in the classroom to the computer at the boy’s home. A screen in front of the robot actually allows Supin to intervene at any time to ask for the teacher’s clarification or to answer a question. His teacher, Alla Gevak said. “When the lesson begins, he (the robot) starts working as an ordinary student and participates very actively.”

Since September, the robot has been helping the boy to follow History, Geography, English, and French lessons.

Stepan said he feels like he  is actually present in the classroom as he can fully control the robot’s movements. For the boy’s mother, Nina Supina, this “presence” is really what matters. “Children have fun in the classroom, frolic and communicate (and now) Stepan can take part,” she said.

Designed in 2008 at an institute in Moscow, the robot which costs $3,000, can receive orders remotely via the Internet from anywhere in the world.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd,  2011.