Yangcheon-gu Develops Digital Skills for Seniors and Children Using Humanoid Robots

Operating 'Robot-Based Digital Competency Enhancement Education' for 3,500 Children and Seniors Using Kindergartens and Senior Centers until November... Providing Various Educational Content from Smartphone Training to Storytelling and Children's Songs with Robot 'Riku' Equipped with Cognitive, Judgment, and Expression Abilities

Yangcheon-gu (District Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced that it will operate the "Robot Utilization Digital Competency Enhancement Education" program until November, providing future technology experience opportunities to over 3,500 digitally vulnerable elderly and children in line with the accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution era.

This project to create a digitally friendly environment is conducted using 40 humanoid robots named "Riku," equipped with cognitive, judgment, and expression abilities. Through the robot's conversational functions, it aims to prevent social isolation among the elderly and enhance digital competencies by providing education with robots to children.

For the elderly, professional instructors dispatched to welfare centers and senior citizen centers use the robot "Riku" to teach smartphone usage (such as navigation and delivery app use) and conduct cognitive ability improvement games. The course consists of three sessions and is free of charge.

For children, the robot "Riku" is lent free of charge to local daycare centers and kindergartens. After professional instructors train affiliated teachers on how to use the robot in advance, each institution autonomously operates the program.

The educational curriculum includes storytelling (13 types), rhythmic songs with movements (23 types), safety education (14 types), and general education (36 types) designed to engage children's interest.

Elderly and children’s facilities wishing to apply for the "Robot Utilization Digital Competency Enhancement Education" can pre-register by phone or via the responsible person's email at the district office's Smart Information Division by October.

Meanwhile, as a result of operating this project last year, the district provided robot-utilized education to a total of over 10,000 elderly and children using kindergartens, daycare centers, senior citizen centers, and welfare centers.

Additionally, a "Riku" robot experience booth was installed at the Future Education Expo, which was part of the Y Education Expo 2023 last year, attracting enthusiastic interest with over 1,200 visitors over three days.

Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, "Through this education that increases understanding and familiarity with future technology, we will support everyone to stand confidently as members of the digital society," and added, "We encourage many applications from elderly and children’s facility officials who are interested."