March 04, 2019
Media Availability – Takanori Shibata, Artificial intelligence and PARO robotics pioneer
Takanori Shibata, a Japanese artificial intelligence and robotics pioneer who won the 2018 Ryman Prize for groundbreaking research into new technology to help elderly adults, will meet with Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Allied Health faculty on Tuesday on the possibility of collaborative research projects.
At 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Shibata will give a demonstration in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts’ Dean’s Conference room, ASA 222, on the PARO therapeutic interactive robot he created. Shibata is chief senior research scientist at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan.
Built to resemble a baby seal, the robot uses sensors, robotics and artificial intelligence software, and is used in 30 countries. The robot is available for use in hospitals and extended care facilities for patients as a way of reducing stress, stimulating interaction between patients and caregivers and improving patient socialization. Research and development began in 1993; the present PARO is the ninth generation.
School of Allied Health faculty are investigating PARO to determine its suitability for a number of research projects potentially in collaboration with other researchers on campus, said Sandra Collins, SIU’s Health Care Management program director. If approved, faculty and graduate students in the Masters of Health Administration and Masters in Health Informatics programs will lead and mobilize research efforts using PARO to interested collaborators at SIU.
Reporters, photographers and news crews have an opportunity Tuesday afternoon to discuss PARO and potential research applications with Shibata and School of Allied Health faculty students.
To arrange for interviews, contact Collins at 618/453-8802, 618/322-6245 or by email at skcollin@siu.edu.