Technology all over the globe is rapidly advancing and now we live in a world where robots have made their way into a normal human’s life. MiRo, an autonomous companion robot is a perfect example of that. It is inspired by the concept of a carefree home system that allows people to look after themselves using smart devices. Instead of relying on external help and resources, this system allows you to tackle your personal and intimate issues in an empowering and cost-effective manner. A UK-based start-up called Consequential Robotics and collaboration between Sebastian Conran Associates and the University of Sheffield is working towards developing a program that facilitates independent living. And MiRo has set out to do just that!

Designed to be a companion to humans, MiRo is an animal-inspired robot that is both friendly and approachable. It does not offer any kind of physical assistance but it monitors behaviour with utmost accuracy and offers companionship. It has pet-like features that one can emotionally engage with and is also a flexible programmable platform for researchers and app developers. Using the MiRoCODE programming environment, students all across GCC, Dubai, UAE and the Middle East are able to create their own programs, try them on-screen and advance in their STEM subjects.

Winning the Best Demonstration Award at the 2017 Human-Robot Interaction Conference in Vienna, Austria, MiRo interacts with wristbands and other digital wearables to track physical activity, environmental factors, monitor any risks, checks our vitals etc. to analyse whether the person is healthy or requires any kind of support. With accurate data recording, this robot can prove to be extremely useful for caregivers who can review the situation and take appropriate action. However, the features are not just restricted to the elderly. MiRo-E is a fully programmable, reasonably priced, robotics platform that allows students and universities to expand their knowledge in robotics, technology and improve their AI coding skills.

MiRo has been the talk of the town because it comes packed with advanced technological features including sensors for facial and voice recognition, navigation technology and light-sensitive vision. Moreover, the companion robot also displays animal-like behaviour such as moving-ear, eyelids, tail and a Bluetooth speaker that produces sounds. It also connects to Wi-Fi and comes with a SD card reader. Over the years, MiRo has been trialled on the elderly by a number of research institutions across the globe. The customer version will be available at 600 pounds, which will not only act as an ideal companion but also play a significant role in evolving STEM education.

Since it displays a superior ‘brain system’, this amiable robot adapts to most situations with mind-blowing accuracy and also shows emotions, makes decisions and responds to human cues in its own unique way. The wider vision behind developing MiRo is to provide emotional aid to humans and decrease the sense of isolation. This empowering model benefits the elderly, healthcare professionals, students and researchers alike.

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Radio Broadcasts have always played an important role in disseminating important information and entertaining mass audiences. Through the medium of Radio, listeners get to learn about political agenda, hear-out views of famous personalities, and be aware of the developments in the world around them.

The same concept is brought to educational institutes, including those in GCC regions, where children can launch their own Broadcasting show and speak about topics that are important to them via the School Radio Platform. If you are a student, here are some topics that might be of interest to you. It’s time to make your opinions public & share them with peers, teachers, & school management;

Innovative Start-Ups & Business

Entrepreneurship is the new buzz word and everyone seems to be excited to start a new brand or bring-in fresh ideas into the market. How about starting a Radio Channel that gives budding entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their ideas! Why can’t the seeds of a great business be sown in your high school days? To get students enthused about this, invite a few businessmen who have been successful with their start-ups and ask them to share their stories of challenges, struggles, and hard work. Following the same footsteps, students can present their start-up ideas; no matter if it culminates into something big in the future, or is just a seedling of an idea taking birth.

Health and Wellness

Stats show that 41.6% of cases of anxiety and depression related to Mental Health disorders are found commonly amongst school-going students and collegiates. Nearly 1 out of 3 adolescents aged 13 to 18 face anxiety disorder. So why not create a platform on your School Radio station to talk about it? Inviting Mental Health experts and wellness coaches on a School Radio talk show to talk about healthy self-care practices, is a great idea. Also, introduce students to the benefits of meditation and yoga via and stress on broadcasting positive experiences of students who benefitted from it.

Music

Everyone loves music! Even middle-school graders follow the cult and have their eyes on top ‘music artists’. Music Albums create quite a rage, and children start idealizing these pop icons and try to copy their sense of fashion, to stay relevant in their social groups. Talking about the different genres of music and playing some classics on School Radio is much of a stress buster! If you are a member of your ‘school band’ here’s your chance to outshine! Create some tunes and even record a fresh album, to be the next ‘Mr. or Ms. Popular’ at school.

Sports

Sports enthusiasts always want to be the first ones to get up-to-date information about their favorite game and sports club. Sports is an important extra-curricular activity in school, and it instills a sense of healthy competition amongst students. Sports also have manifold benefits on fighting obesity and contributing to the individual’s physical well-being. Via School Radio channel, discuss sports news, celebrate important milestones, and invite famous football/cricket personalities to your school talk show. So, are you ready to cheer for the ‘Al Nasr FC’, UAE’s most loved football team?

Technology

This is a dynamic topic and each day we get news about something innovative happening in the Tech space. From Elon Musk sending the Tesla Car to Mars and Google making advancements in Quantum Computing, Technology is advancing at a super-fast pace. Even educational institutes adopt the STEM curriculum focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and encourage children to learn to code & enable Robots to do amazing things. Use the Radio channel platform to broadcast content on amazing facets of technology and inspire students to venture wholeheartedly.

So, what topic are you going to talk about when it’s your turn to host a show on School Radio? Make sure you prepare well before going ‘live’ and speak about the subject with passion & conviction. School Radio is already making waves in 430+ schools across the Globe, including some schools in Dubai & other regions of the Middle East.

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Children are fascinated by Robotic Toys, as it sparks their curiosity and fuels their imagination. If you had to decode what your child is thinking, you would discover all kinds of interesting questions! How does the Robot move forward? What is this noise that this Robot toy is making? Does the Robot eat any food? Does this toy have any superpower? And, many such pondering thoughts culminate in the child’s inquisitive mind.

There’s no doubt that Kids love cartoons and all sorts of animated characters. Similarly, Robots have their own personality and children admire the vivaciousness of this marvelous toy. The latest AI Powered Robots can interact with kids, recognize faces, and even become a great companion.

Coding Robots for Kids by Matatalab Going a step further, Matatalab has introduced a curriculum that familiarizes students with some basic coding tools in sync with the STEAM Learning practice. Through tangible coding products; Matatalab combines technology and education, providing innovative learning experiences to students as young as 2 to 5 years of age, to develop their 21st century skills.

Here are some good reasons to purchase a coding Robot for Kids: Believe it or not in all fun, games and entertainment, Kiddie Robots are more than just devices that move and make noise. They actually teach the fundamentals of programming, while holistically developing the child’s personality.

Playing with Robots Fosters Communication Skills

Kids who don’t have siblings may find a friend in the Robot! They interact with it, read a book together, and even play a game of catch & cook to stay entertained. Parents also become more inquisitive and start asking questions to parents, thereby enhancing communication skills.

Robot Toys Make Coding a Hands-on Practice

Gone are those days where children were required to visit a computer lab and type some codes or drag the pre-defined code on their PC to learn programming skills. This method becomes rather boring and kids lose interest after a while. Quite contrary to this, a coding Robot Toy encourages hands-on practice, and students can see their commands being executed by the Robot, thereby making the process thrilling.

Builds an interest in STEAM learning

Who wouldn’t like the idea of playing with a Robot, while getting to learn something new each day? The advantages of hands-on coding are manifold and children slowly become lifelong learners through fun & games. An innovative mindset is fostered, by encouraging children to practice trial & error methods to make the toy Robot follow different commands. In case there is an error where the Robot is stuck or starts to show some resistance, students start delving deeper and try to find a solution to the problem. Therefore, a problem-solving approach and logical thinking skills are developed.

Spend More Time With Parents

Robot Toys are not only popular in educational institutes, but Home Edition Sets are also available. Parents all across the world, and from developed countries like Dubai in the Middle East, trust Matatalab for purchasing the latest hands-on coding Robot Toys. Some homes have made it a ritual, where parents & children spend 30 minutes daily together and have a great time navigating the Toy Robot around the living room and making it do all sorts of things. Thanks to Matatalab, parents are able to spend quality time with their kids and learn something new together where children become teachers & parents act as passive observers. The Matatalab kit features a booklet filled with ideas to help kids get started. If you wish to learn more about Matatalab and wonder how to get your hands on it based in GCC and UAE, visit our website https://knowledge-hub.com/

Getting Kids Comfortable with the Digital World

IoT, VR and AI are not just fancy terms! They have become a reality today. What seemed as impossible yesterday, is now seamlessly possible due to the such inventions. Playing with Robots will definitely spark an interest towards the wonders of technology & digitalization amongst children at an early age. By the time children enter high school or even college, they would be confident enough to invent apps and use technology to solve important problems that persist.

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Schools across the world, partner with Carolina, who pioneers in supplying Science Lab Kits with a commitment to make study of Biology and Chemistry more exciting. Carolina is a common name in most educational institutes across Dubai in the Middle East.

Thanks to Carolina’s homeschooling kits, virtual science experiments are continuing as usual. While Carolina kits are tried and tested, one needs to take extra precaution to ensure utmost safety to the student and the home environment.

Teachers, parents, and science supervisors can collectively make home science a safe experience for our little Scientists in the making! The idea is not to be scared, but to be cautious.

Here are some practical tips to practice:

Conduct Experiments only under Adult Supervision

If science needs to happen at home, make sure you are around to supervise and guide. Be in the same room where your child is undertaking the experiment and not away in the kitchen or in another room tending to your client meetings.

Follow Step-by-Step Rules

The gradual progression of a Chemistry experiment follows a sequential order and therefore it is wise to abide by rules, especially when at home. If it’s a video conferencing session, allow your kids to use the apparatus and chemical composition, only when the teacher asks them to and not just randomly. Usually schools also share an ‘experiment handbook’ that highlights the stages step-by-step. Parents or guardians can read through the handbook prior to the session and be prepared to follow suit.

Keep All Materials Ready

In a one-hour virtual Home Science Experiment session, there is limited time at hand and students are expected to follow their Lab Teacher’s instructions, to get the best results. Therefore, organizing and keeping all materials ready before class begins, is advisable. Last minute panic and running around to find materials during the lecture, only creates more confusion, and the chances of accidents may increase.

Use Personal Protective Equipment

It goes without saying that Personal Protective gear is a must, even when the experimentation is being conducted at home. Just like you would wear gloves, safety goggles, aprons, and cover your head, before entering the Science Lab at school, the same needs to be followed at home. Also, it is better to wear full sleeved clothes to cover any exposed skin, to avoid getting hurt or burnt.

Get Lab Safety Agreement Signed

Parents need to sign a safety agreement shared by the school. The undertaking will have certain rules and precautionary guidelines to be followed while conducting the experiments with your kids at home. The agreement usually states a clause that if anything goes wrong, the school authorities will not be responsible.

Choose An Ideal Place In Your Home

What’s the ideal spot to safely conduct experiments at home? Choose a space that doesn’t have too much furniture around. Any delicate items like glass frames or showpieces need to be moved away from the place where the experiment is to be conducted. If you are choosing to work in the living room, make sure that part is cordoned off using a blanket, so that other kids & adults moving around do not accidently bump into each other and create chaos. Ensure utmost peace and make arrangements for extra newspaper sheets, cotton cloth, and paper bags.

Clean-up Immediately

Students usually get excited when their ‘litmus test experiment’ comes out correct and can’t wait to share this experience with their friends. In all the fun and frolic, they may just the place without clearing-up the mess. Cleaning-up is as important as organizing material orderly at the beginning of the session. Instruct them to dispose liquids carefully in the sink, use a cloth to wipe the table, and throw the used pincers & droppers in the dustbin.

Whether you are learning at school or at home, lab safety is very important. Carolina also promotes safety supplies, being the world’s leading one-stop platform for all science lab essentials. If you reside in UAE or any other GCC country, consult your school administrator to get more details or go through our website to learn more: Carolina Biological 

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Globally, a lot of misconceptions surround the concept of Dyscalculia. While a lot of people think it’s just a ‘numbers dyslexia’, it’s not. Dyscalculia goes beyond just having difficulty in writing the correct numerical answer. It is used to describe learning difficulties that are related to the overall concepts of math. While this is commonly found among students in all across the world, Dyscalculia is treatable and apps like Mathseeds make it even easier.

How to notice Dyscalculia

While it can look different for every individual depending on their age, circumstances and mental development. Here are a few symptoms that are commonly found:

• One finds it challenging to comprehend wider concepts of math such as algebra, geometry, greater-than & less-than etc.
• Difficulty in remembering functions such as addition, multiplication, subtraction, carry-forwarding a number, or dividing a sum.
• Difficulty in understanding the sequence of a sum or remembering the steps that are needed to find an answer to an equation, no matter how simple it is.
• One faces consistent trouble in expressing their mathematical knowledge or completing mathematical homework.
• It is also more likely to diagnose Dyscalculia in children and adults who also face anxiety, ADHD, depression, or dyslexia. However, a lot of more research is required in order to detect a firm cause.

How to manage and treat Dyscalculia

A lot of you may ask ‘can it actually be treated?’ The answer is YES. Dyscalculia can be managed and treated. There are a wide range of options available for both children and adults that can help them combat it. A few easy strategies for children include:

• Continuous practice of basic concepts of math. Sitting with students one-on-one and going over practices such as addition, subtraction etc. can prove to be quite helpful.
• Breaking down complex concepts and modules into smaller bits of information so it becomes easy for them to comprehend.
• While giving personal attention to the child can prove to be fruitful, it is also highly recommended to teach small groups of students together, which can facilitate easy understanding and higher relatability. Most IB Schools all over, including Dubai and GCC, follow a practice of conducting after school classes for students who need extra support, and even arrange for a shadow teacher who is specially appointed for the child suffering from Dyscalculia and pays individualized attention to bring out the best in the child.
• Going over the same concepts over and over again in a demonstrative manner can prove immensely helpful as it encourages deeper understanding among children.
• A lot of students in UAE in the Middle East are also using the Mathseeds app that allows kids to learn mathematical concepts in an easy and interactive manner. It combines highly structured lessons with motivational prompts so the children are not only engaged in learning but also develop a positive approach towards the subject.
• Consulting an education specialist is also a great way of managing Dyscalculia as they can help you with mental exercises and educational resources as per your needs.

While it can be relatively challenging for children and adults to learn mathematical concepts with Dyscalculia, but on the brighter side, it is treatable. Diagnosing it at an earlier stage can make a big difference so don’t shy away from speaking to a credible consultant doctor or child psychologist about this.

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Misty II is the first of its kind professional-grade ‘personal robot’ which allows developers to experiment and unleash the magic of this new-age Robot. She has a lot of promise as a teaching tool for educators who have some experience with coding. Misty may aid you in accomplishing your objectives in a variety of ways. She is happy to cooperate with you on anything from coding to robotics ideas to cutting-edge technology.

Misty is a pal even to students, as numerous schools following the STEAM curriculum have introduced this super-Robot to middle school and high school children. Especially in countries like Dubai, in the Middle East, and GCC areas allow children to learn by hands-on activities and watch their ideas come to life, which keeps them interested and enthusiastic in learning about computers, technology, and Robotics. Misty delivers scalability as a single development platform with a lot of characteristics. She is adjustable and fascinating for youngsters with numerous hobbies, ranging from 3D printing attachments, to face recognition activities and even coding abilities on the Arduino.

Capabilities Demonstrated by Misty

Misty is ready for developers to design skills that make full use of her powers when it comes to recognizing and identifying humans, interacting through speech (third-party NLP integrations), snapping images, gathering data, and sharing. Much effort has been concentrated on making it simple for developers to construct. Developers may access a large variety of tools, such as a pre-built Command Center, Skill Runner, and API Explorer, utilizing Misty’s user-friendly JavaScript or C# SDK interface. Her items are accompanied by thorough documentation, sample code, and tutorials.

Character Customization

Customizing your characters is a cinch due to Misty’s huge range of eye and voice packs. Misty can show everything from adoration to fear, love to silliness, surprise to tiredness, and anything in between because of her features. Misty can sway, point, dance, or lift her arms in enthusiasm with a single line of code, or you can employ her three-degree-of-freedom neck to do it automatically. Misty has you covered a range of tasks like; bespoke 3D-printed grabbing arms, sensors for your company, or teaching your youngsters how to construct attachments for aesthetic purposes. The CAD models for Misty’s shell can be easily sourced, as well as a number of “blank” components for several of her attachment points that will help you to construct & code (such her arm sockets, head panel, and trailer hitch).

Capacitive Touch

Each of Misty’s six capacitive touch panels is situated in a separate section of her head—four on top, one beneath her chin, and one on the back handle. You may program Misty to respond to human contact by moving and expressing personality, or you can utilize these panels to let people participate with your talent (for example, tap Misty’s head to change settings and touch her chin to choose). Misty’s abilities mainly depend on capacitive touch.

Picture Capturing, Collection, and Sharing

Misty’s visor features a high-resolution camera that enables her to capture images and record movies. Misty may be photographing intruders while doing a security assignment, or she may be evaluating visual data in pursuit of a particular object. It is absolutely up to you how Misty utilizes this information. We tested giving visual data for in-depth analysis using Microsoft’s Cognitive Services APIs, which offers information about Misty’s surroundings for her to apply elsewhere in the ability. You can send Misty a text message, and she’ll respond with a snapshot of what she’s watching. These are just two instances of how Misty’s picture capturing, collection, and sharing capabilities may be put to use.

If you reside in UAE; speak to our Knowledge Hub ‘sales executives’ to learn more about Misty and her unusually quirky antics:

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