Hong Kong robots help autistic children boost social skills

An autism tutor uses robots to teach a 5-year-old child with special needs to introduce herself, in Hong Kong, on April 17, 2021. - Reuters

HONG KONG (Reuters): A Hong Kong professor has developed an educational programme using role-playing robots to help children with autism improve their social skills, part of an initiative adopted by non-profit groups and schools.

The programme, Robot for Autism Behavioral Intervention (RABI), is designed for people with autism between the ages of 3 and 18, and aims to help them be more social and to resolve issues such as conflicts and bullying.