Robots check the health of schoolchildren in China
Robots that help people in China: nothing earth-shattering. But the fact that a Walklake sheet metal man checks the children's health every day in nurseries and pre-schools is.
Since 2016, all children in China have had to undergo a health check before starting school. The aim is to recognise illnesses at an early stage and prevent them from spreading. Every day, nurses check whether the children are healthy and allowed to attend school. A robot called Walklake now performs this task in over 2,000 schools.
Look me in the eye, little one
Before entering the school, each child leans forward slightly to be at the same height as the doctor robot. The child places their hands in the robot's stomach and looks it in the eye. After three seconds, the metal doctor spits out the results and warns of any symptoms in its diagnosis. The teacher or a nurse then decides whether the child needs to go to school, go home or even see a doctor.
According to the manufacturer, infrared and other installed cameras recognise over 20 illnesses such as pharyngitis, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, flu or conjunctivitis. Scanning the eyes, throat and hands reveals symptoms such as redness, fever or pustules on the skin.
A system with potential
Only detailed analyses will reveal how reliable such a system is. Without the publication of data, even experts such as Thomas Neumuth, Deputy Director of the Leipzig Innovation Centre for Computer-Assisted Surgery and specialist in model-based medicine, it is difficult to say: "However, one positive aspect is that it does not send the children home straight away, but to specialist staff for further examinations."
If the robot labels a child as healthy, it still sends their data to the school management. Walklake can do more than just medicine: it can also act as a substitute in the absence of a carer, accompany children to their classrooms or even act as an assistant teacher and sing songs and tell stories. Another big plus is its ability to scan the faces of parents and grandparents. The robot recognises as soon as a child is picked up by a stranger and sounds the alarm.
Data protection, anyone?
This is also where the biggest concerns lie: Joanna Bryson, an AI expert at the University of Bath, warns against permanently storing data from such robots. This is because robots are a real target for hackers - especially if they contain sensitive data such as health status and photos.
Robots can still be very appealing to children: The modern tin men can be particularly helpful when it comes to annoying examinations and anxiety about visits to the doctor. According to Bryson, we have always been attracted to technological devices that look human-like and can be controlled. Robots as medical assistants are no longer a rarity in China: since 2017, an iFlytek robot that has passed the final medical examination has been helping out with operations at Anhui Regional Hospital. <p
When I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis.