For the past two years, the organization "Elternhilfe für das krebskranke Kind e.V. Göttingen" has been providing robots to seriously ill children and adolescents so they can participate in school classes. On January 18th, a workshop was held where families and teachers shared their experiences with the avatars. Further details can now be found on Elternhaus' Instagram account:( @elternhausgoettingen ).
Link to the post: Elternhaus Instagram Post
Our latest press releases about the project are now online:
As part of our second workshop, a continuation of the initial session focusing on avatar users and direct interactors with the technology such as teachers, parents, and children, we conducted a hybrid event at Elternhaus. This format allowed for both in-person attendance and participation via the internet. During this event, we gained deeper insights into the usability and adaptability of the students, teachers, and parents involved with avatar technology. Additionally, we identified initial scenarios where audio and video streams were transmitted without all parties being informed, highlighting initial privacy concerns. It is important to note that all participants, whether parents, students, or teachers, generally responded positively to the use of avatars. The ability to involve sick children in daily school activities without their physical presence is invaluable. However, it is crucial to carefully analyze and understand potential threats or privacy concerns to enhance the security of the technology and ensure the privacy of all involved parties.
In close collaboration with our partners from the University of Duisburg-Essen, the University of Bonn, and Chilli Mind from Kassel, we successfully conducted our first workshop on the use of avatars in school environments. The workshop targeted participants with existing experience in avatar deployment in schools, including Elternhaus, Techniker Krankenkasse, and representatives from Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at UMG. These partners provided valuable insights into application, technical challenges, and privacy aspects. The event marked the beginning of further development, particularly through Elternhaus, where we expanded our network. This broad network enables us to establish closer connections with parents, teachers, and children who have relevant experiences, jointly exploring the potentials and concerns of avatars in education. In this context, we have decided to organize another workshop in collaboration with Elternhaus.
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