This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue:

TTRN CPH 2022: "Digital Health beyond COVID-19: Lessons Learned" (37)

Published on in Vol 9 (2023)

Preprints (earlier versions) of this paper are available at https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/41340, first published .
Experiences of Using a Telepresence Robot During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Experiences of Using a Telepresence Robot During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Experiences of Using a Telepresence Robot During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors of this article:

Lahila Fanta Diaby1, 2, 3 Author Orcid Image ;   Birthe Dinesen1 Author Orcid Image
Article Authors Cited by Tweetations Metrics

    Abstract

    1Laboratory for Welfare Technology – Digital Health & Rehabilitation, Sport Sciences – Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    2Tekno-Antropologi & Participation, Department of Planning, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    3Department of Radiography, University College of Northern Jutland, Aalborg, Denmark

    *all authors contributed equally

    Corresponding Author:

    Lahila Fanta Diaby, MSc

    Laboratory for Welfare Technology – Digital Health & Rehabilitation, Sport Sciences – Performance and Technology

    Department of Health Science and Technology

    Aalborg University

    Niels Jernes vej 12, A5-203

    Aalborg, 9220

    Denmark

    Phone: 45 72691034

    Email: lahila.diaby@outlook.com


    Background: School absenteeism due to mental disorders and physical disabilities is an international problem. When children are absent from primary school, they do not receive the fundamental educational foundation they are entitled to. This affects their further opportunities to receive higher education later in their life. Studies show that telepresence robots can include absent students in the teachings and social life at school.

    Objective: The purpose of this project was therefore to investigate the opportunities and limitations of using an OriHime telepresence robot to teach absent primary school students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Methods: This project was a case study from a primary school in Denmark. The study included primary school students (n=3), teachers (n=5), parents (n=2), a school principal, a pedagogue, a school absentee consultant, and a psychologist. The 14 participants were interviewed based on interview guides. In all, 20 hours of observation of OriHime have been made in the classroom conducting in the pilot test. Afterward, OriHime was tested by an absent primary school student for a 2-month period during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Results: The absent students found that OriHime was useful and a good alternative for them to be able to attend class. Teachers and pupils found that OriHime was useful in a class setting but not when conducting outdoor activities. The parents found that OriHime could include the absent students in the teachings and social life in class.

    Conclusions: The absent students experienced that OriHime could function as an educational and social tool during COVID-19 and that it was possible to participate in the indoor teachings while being physically absent. The absent students, teachers, and parents found OriHime useful with opportunities but stated some limitations. Based on the results, a guideline for the implementation of OriHime in Danish primary schools was produced.

    Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

    iproc 2023;9:e41340

    doi:10.2196/41340

    Keywords

    telepresence; COVID-19; school absenteeism; primary school; user experience; social robot 

    Edited by T Leung; This is a non–peer-reviewed article. submitted 22.07.22; accepted 02.02.23; published 14.02.23

    Copyright

    ©Lahila Fanta Diaby, Birthe Dinesen. Originally published in Iproceedings (https://www.iproc.org), 14.02.2023.

    This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in Iproceedings, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.iproc.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.