How Robots Help Kids with Autism

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Jean Pierre Bolat, CEO of MOVIA Robotics in Bristol. The company designs robot-assisted instruction systems to help teach children with autism.

University of Connecticut professor and scientist Timothy Gifford founded MOVIA Robotics in 2010.

Bolat joined the company three and a half years ago after a long career in the U.S. Navy and in cybersecurity.

He was inspired by the company's mission because he has a son on the spectrum.

Bolat said MOVIA’s system helps children on the autism spectrum focus, increase their attention span, and accelerate their learning trajectory.

“They do some movement activities together and they have a discussion,” he said.

“They learn how to communicate together. What we do is we have the child answer a question and the robot answers via a tablet.

“The child can positively answer through a tablet. The data of the child's answers are collected in a laptop computer.”

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