More inclusion and participation with telepresence robots

The corona pandemic has many effects on further education and training as well as on therapeutic work. Even before that, on-site participation for people with physical and/or sensory impairments was usually associated with a great deal of personal effort, even at barrier-free learning locations. This applies above all to the implementation and teaching of action- and movement-oriented or sociometric therapeutic approaches like Psychodrama. Because these approaches need   the feeling of distance and closeness, direct contact with other group members and - in summary - the experience in space as important parts of self-awareness, educational ans therapeutic experience.

The non-profit Moreno Institut Edenkoben/Überlingen gGmbH represents Psychodrama in teaching, application, research, supervision and education. Recently reinforced by the contact restrictions due to the corona pandemic, online formats have been introduced and hybrid approaches have been developed. It quickly became clear that hybrid formats mean more technical and organizational effort, but also offer many advantages. For example, participants with different mobility restrictions (health, social, etc.) can still take part flexibly from home. However, a major obstacle is the lack of on-site mobility for the online-participants: They either stand in the group connected via video conference on the screen of a notebook, are projected onto the wall or are stationary somewhere in the room (e.g. in a conference system). The view of the online-participants  usually allows only a limited perspective and reduce the participation on the activities in the room and the connection to the presence-group. So they tend to feel as outsiders.

Our solution: the Double 3 telepresence robot. This is a two-wheeled, self-driving video conference robot that can be remotely controlled online via browser or app. It has a fully integrated tablet as well as high-resolution cameras and sensors, that recognize the environment. The robot automatically chooses the safest route and avoid obstacles. The cameras have a wide field of view and can be tilted up and down, which helps to follow the activities in the room, read papers on the floor or wall, or zoom on a specific point. The person in charge feels more connected to the group and can take part in all activities in the room in a self-determined manner.

This is how education and therapy become more inclusive, social and digital!

Video of an exemplary use at school