Abstract
In this paper, we review the concept, development and use of modular robotic devices for education, health improvements, and business in Africa. The modular robotics inspired technology has the advantage of allowing any user easy access to a physical construction of new and advanced technology. We conceptualized several educational tools inspired by modular robotics for contextualized IT education in Tanzania, leading to a novel IT degree program and the development of East Africa’s first science and business park in Iringa, Tanzania. The prototypes inspired by modular robotics were developed in the local, rural context and tested by local users in hospitals and rehabilitation centres. In this paper, we review the development of both modular building blocks for education and modular robotic tiles for rehabilitation in Tanzania.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of IEEE Africon |
| Publisher | IEEE |
| Publication date | 2011 |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 |
| Event | IEEE Africon 2011 - Livingston, Zambia Duration: 13 Sept 2011 → 15 Sept 2011 Conference number: 10 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/conhome/6062325/proceeding |
Conference
| Conference | IEEE Africon 2011 |
|---|---|
| Number | 10 |
| Country/Territory | Zambia |
| City | Livingston |
| Period | 13/09/2011 → 15/09/2011 |
| Internet address |
Keywords
- Contextualised IT
- Rehabilitation robotics
- Educational robotics
- Modular robotics
- Embodied AI