Alberta Children Hospital turns tech into paws-itive experience for sick kids [Video]

Animal therapy is a well-known method to calm the nerves of those dealing with stress or anxiety, but a new robotic twist on the idea is now aiding in recovery efforts for the Alberta Children’s Hospital’s youngest patients.

A pair of robotic dogs were recently donated to the hospital’s Child Life Team – named Casey1 and Casey2 – after a generous donor who supplied the latest interactive technology.

The robots can do all sorts of tricks which include talking, dancing, jumping up and down, waving, rolling over, stretching, and even making the sign of a heart to send a bit of paws-itivity.

For young patients like five-year-old Dean Grubbe, the robotic dogs came as a big surprise when he first saw them walking into his hospital room.

“It’s a little bit weird, because they are dancing robots,” he said smiling.

“They’re actually kind of funny though, I really like them!”

…