Engaging with social robotics to create a more inclusive society
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The problem
As many as 1 in 8 Australians are neurodivergent . For some neurodiverse people , sensory sensitivities can impact their ability to attend live music or concert venues , generally characterised by bright lights , high sound volumes and big crowds .
The traditional presentation of sound and visuals at performance venues can be overwhelming for some neurodivergent people . Additionally , variances in neurodiversity negate a one-size-fits-all solution .
Our solution
Developing an application that distributes sound through multiple spatially distributed channels can transform auditory experiences , so they are exciting rather than overwhelming , says Professor Mari Velonaki from UNSW ’ s School of Art & Design . Assistive technologies , such as social robotics , can make cultural life more accessible to a greater diversity of people .
Mari Velonaki is the founder and director of UNSW ’ s Creative Robotics Lab ( CRL ) and the founder and director of the National Facility for Human Robot Interaction Research , a collaboration between UNSW , the University of Sydney , UTS and St Vincent ’ s Hospital Sydney .
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Mari Velonaki with the robot she created named Diamandini , which is designed to elicit emotional responses from humans ( left ), and a cobot ( right ). Photo : Mari Velonaki .