Trial event held in Miyazaki for people with disabilities with difficulties going outside in using an ‘avatar robot’

From NHK

December 5 2024

Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Pref – A trial event was held in Miyakonojo City to let many people know about “avatar robots,” which allow people with disabilities or other reasons to remotely control a robot to connect with society.

The robot introduced was a small humanoid robot called “OriHime” equipped with a camera and microphone. People who have difficulty going out due to disabilities or serious illnesses can remotely control it to talk to people.

On the 5th, a trial event was held at the Miyakonojo City Museum of Art, and “Hina,” a woman in her 20s from Miyazaki City who operates the “avatar robot,” interacted with visitors.

“Hina” explained that she became physically disabled as a child and lives in an electric wheelchair, and now remotely controls a robot from her home and works as a waiter at a cafe in Tokyo.

When asked by the audience about any difficulties she has had in serving customers, “Hina” shared her experience of being spoken to in a language other than Japanese or English and using a translator to communicate.

When asked what she would like to try in the future, she said that she is a licensed clinical psychologist and would like to use this robot to give advice to people with problems.

Hina operated the robot in between conversations, showing charming movements such as raising and lowering her hands and face, interacting as if the person was there in person.

A woman in her 40s from Miyakonojo City said, “I thought it was a wonderful initiative because it gives people who want to work but can’t easily do so many opportunities and allows them to communicate with so many people.”

Hina said, “There are all kinds of people in the world, but I hope that there will be more opportunities for everyone to go outside and work equally. I am a qualified clinical psychologist, and I hope to be able to work in various places in the future.”