By Shay Maunz, Time for Kids
When Makayla Nunn was 8, she was diagnosed with a rare illness. It is called chronic fatigue syndrome. People with this illness are regularly overcome by extreme tiredness. The feeling doesn’t go away when they sleep or rest.
Makayla lives in the United Kingdom. On her doctor’s orders, she started spending just three hours at school each day. She soon fell behind in her studies. She also missed her friends. “I would love to see them more,” Makayla, now 15, told TIME for Kids.
Then Makayla’s mom introduced her to a new tool. It helped her keep on top of schoolwork and stay connected to friends. It was a robot called AV1.
Hi, Robot
AV1 is 11 inches tall and weighs two pounds. It has a white body, glowing eyes, a speaker, a microphone, and wireless Internet access. AV1 was built for kids with a chronic illness.
Now, when Makayla can’t go to school, AV1 takes her place. To take part in a lesson, she opens an app on her phone. She uses AV1’s camera to see the classroom. She can “raise her hand” by tapping a button. That makes a light on AV1’s head flash blue. When Makayla speaks, AV1 broadcasts her voice.
AV1 isn’t the only technology that lets kids attend school remotely. But AV1 is uniquely designed for social interaction. The robot has expressive eyes. They let Makayla show emotions such as happiness or sadness. The whisper function allows her to speak with friends without interrupting the teacher. And AV1 is portable, so friends can carry it to recess. (AV1 is available only in Europe, but it will soon be coming to the U.S.)
Karen Dolva cofounded the company that makes AV1. “When you’re not in school, you miss out on all these small, magical moments and interactions,” she told TFK. “AV1 helps you stay involved in the conversation.”
