Stimulating Engagement for Neurodivergent Children and Their Therapist through a robotic ball

The Gap Between Theraphy and Play

Neurodivergent children, often require specialized education to address their unique physical, social, and cognitive conditions. Current tools in special education settings sometimes fall short in engaging these children effectively. The project explores the potential of a robotic ball named Fizzy, to bridge this gap by aligning therapeutic goals with children's intrinsic motivations for play. By fostering an engaging and interactive learning environment, Fizzy aims to enhance therapeutic outcomes and improve the overall well-being of neurodivergent children in special education and beyond.

Fizzy's Mediating Role in Therapuethic Activities

The research demonstrates how technology, specifically the robotic ball Fizzy, can mediate and enrich therapeutic processes, promoting skill development and engagement across physical, social, and cognitive domains. Fizzy interacts with children through movement, lights, and sound, creating a multisensory experience that promotes engagement over different activities. The study also uncovers the complex relationships between the robot, child, and therapist in various activities, shaped by the dynamic interplay of tasks, games, and engagement, demonstrating how Fizzy, as a therapy tool, mediates and enriches the therapeutic process with its behaviours. Fizzy acts as a dynamic participant in the setting. Its presence is mediated by therapists, sometimes guiding activities, sometimes being part of the activity, and at other times acting as a social actor like another student.

The Library of Values and Fizzy Edu as a Concept

The behaviour library developed during the research captures how therapists employed Fizzy in social, physical, and cognitive activities and how children interacted with it, providing valuable empirical data for future studies and the design of educational therapy tools. The final design concept, Fizzy EDU, is a comprehensive service system consisting of a hub, ball, remote, and app, all aims to support a wide range of therapeutic activities for the diverse needs of neurodivergent children. It is an adapted and conceptualized version of the original Fizzy. The elements align with key goals and values that are pivotal for enhancing therapeutic outcomes such as engagement, skill development, and customized interventions.