**4.3 Attention span evaluation in high school students**

High school students are more accustomed to the use of novel technological platforms and their use in daily life activities. For the same reason, the novelty of using robotic platforms during class may not be that interesting at first glance to them. The lack of novelty could even produce the reduction of the attention span during class. For this reason, it would be proven useful to evaluate the attention span of high school students during class, when the instructor is using a robotic platform, as illustrated in **Figure 5**.

The study described in [20] analyzes how much attention a group of high school students give during a mathematics class when the teacher uses a NAO robot.

**Figure 5.** *Use of a NAO robot in a high school class.*

The methodology of the project was as follows: First, an electroencephalogram (EEG) equipment was used in some students during class, to obtain brain activity readings. Then, the teacher would give a pre-test to the group regarding the topic that would be given after. After the evaluation, the explanations and activities of the class were given by both the instructor and the robot, taking turns during the class to do so. The explanation procedure would continue after several classes until the topic was entirely given to the students. At the end of the last class, another evaluation was given to the students to compare their results with the first test.

The results of the group that interacted with the robot during the sessions were compared with another that received the same explanations and evaluations but without the NAO robot implementation. The EEG readings were also captured in the control group to generate the comparison as well.

While the class was given in both groups, a behavioral observation protocol was used to analyze the body behavior and attitudes of the students. Finally, at the end of the sessions, a little survey was given to every student and teaching staff that participated in the experimentation to analyze their perceptions about the use of a robotic platform during class.

The quantitative results came from filtering the EEG readings of the students to acquire the alpha and beta brain wave activity [21]. These two signals indicate the relaxation and concentration periods of a human being, allowing to determine in which moments the student was paying attention and to which parts of the class. The qualitative results came from the analysis of an Auzmendi attitude scale [22] that evaluates the anxiety, utility, motivation, and confidence the student shows during class.

By comparing both results, it was concluded that a robotic platform is capable of improving the attention span of students during class. However, it was also noticed that the attention was given most of the time to the robot's activities rather than the explanation, so a change in the class methodology and robot implementation is due.

### *4.3.1 Deployment considerations*

The different situations described earlier clearly state that the use of SAR platforms in both healthcare and education improves the direct population that interacts with this technology. However, it is still needed to evaluate the feasibility of extending the use of these platforms nationwide.

According to the last survey of INEGI regarding the number of schools of different levels (from preschool to high school) [23], in 2018, there was a total of 244,117 schools around the country, from which 85.11% represents the public school system (see **Table 1** for the school distribution according to the educational level). Considering that public education covers 87.98% of Mexican students, it can be assumed that the financial cost of the government to implement these platforms would be extremely high. It would be necessary then to search for the collaboration between the government and enterprise to finance the implementation of these platforms in every single school.

Another point in consideration is the training of the personnel. Since the teaching staff is not accustomed to using these technologies, trained personnel need to instruct them about the correct use of the platforms, as well as how they can be implemented into their educational curricula effectively. In this case, the problem would be the lack of trained people, since the use of SAR platforms is relatively new in Mexico.

It should probably take around 12 years to develop a national implementation program that covers the creation of collaboration projects between the government

**55**

*Socially Assistive Robotics: State-of-the-Art Scenarios in Mexico*

and enterprise, the acquisition of enough platforms to cover national population, the training of engineers for the platform manipulation and methodology design,

**Educational level Financial support Number of schools Number of students** Preschool Public 73,574 4,139,977

Elementary Public 87,756 12,678,241

Secondary Public 34,293 5,939,235

High school Public 12,138 4,237,524

Private 16,005 751,025

Private 9164 1,341,963

Private 5396 597,026

Private 5791 999,479

The use of SAR platforms in the Mexican healthcare system is a little more complex to achieve. Since last year's change of administration, the healthcare system in Mexico has sustained multiple structural changes. It would then be necessary to wait at least 3 years until the new system is sufficiently accomplished to start considering the use of SAR technologies to support medical labor. At the same time, there are other problems regarding the number of medical professionals and medical access that made the suggestion of SAR platforms difficult. Nevertheless, those

It can be said generally that the use of SAR technologies in Mexico is still in the phase of experimental evaluation, where these platforms are being used in particu-

The different scenarios mentioned in this chapter show the importance that has been given to socially assistive robots in both occupational therapy sessions and educational purposes. The few examples show promising results, as well as the desire of researchers to continue evaluating how these platforms are capable of improving the quality of life of the population in different areas. However, it is still

The first problem is that currently, robotic platforms, as the ones mentioned through the chapter, are expensive, making it difficult for different national institutions to acquire one platform. At the same time, there are not enough people capable of operating and giving maintenance to the robot, which transforms the platform

Another difficulty presented in this work is that every reference and experiment mentioned was only experimental. Hence, only a small population is capable of benefiting from the use of the platform. A socially assistive robot will only be utterly efficient until most of the population benefits from its use. The idea is to use these platforms to improve the quality of life of everyone. Unfortunately, it is still necessary to develop economic and social policies besides the technological that

lar situations to evaluate the future possibility of national implementation.

necessary to mention the obstacles that still need to be solved in the future.

and the training of the teaching staff of every school personnel.

aspects are out of the scope of this chapter.

**5. Conclusions**

**Table 1.**

*Number of schools in Mexico [23].*

into obsolete after some time.

befits the use of such inventions.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91446*

*Socially Assistive Robotics: State-of-the-Art Scenarios in Mexico DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91446*


**Table 1.**

*Industrial Robotics - New Paradigms*

robotic platform during class.

*4.3.1 Deployment considerations*

platforms in every single school.

of extending the use of these platforms nationwide.

during class.

The methodology of the project was as follows: First, an electroencephalogram (EEG) equipment was used in some students during class, to obtain brain activity readings. Then, the teacher would give a pre-test to the group regarding the topic that would be given after. After the evaluation, the explanations and activities of the class were given by both the instructor and the robot, taking turns during the class to do so. The explanation procedure would continue after several classes until the topic was entirely given to the students. At the end of the last class, another evaluation was given to the students to compare their results with the first test.

The results of the group that interacted with the robot during the sessions were compared with another that received the same explanations and evaluations but without the NAO robot implementation. The EEG readings were also captured in

While the class was given in both groups, a behavioral observation protocol was used to analyze the body behavior and attitudes of the students. Finally, at the end of the sessions, a little survey was given to every student and teaching staff that participated in the experimentation to analyze their perceptions about the use of a

The quantitative results came from filtering the EEG readings of the students to acquire the alpha and beta brain wave activity [21]. These two signals indicate the relaxation and concentration periods of a human being, allowing to determine in which moments the student was paying attention and to which parts of the class. The qualitative results came from the analysis of an Auzmendi attitude scale [22] that evaluates the anxiety, utility, motivation, and confidence the student shows

By comparing both results, it was concluded that a robotic platform is capable of improving the attention span of students during class. However, it was also noticed that the attention was given most of the time to the robot's activities rather than the explanation, so a change in the class methodology and robot implementation is due.

The different situations described earlier clearly state that the use of SAR platforms in both healthcare and education improves the direct population that interacts with this technology. However, it is still needed to evaluate the feasibility

According to the last survey of INEGI regarding the number of schools of different levels (from preschool to high school) [23], in 2018, there was a total of 244,117 schools around the country, from which 85.11% represents the public school system (see **Table 1** for the school distribution according to the educational level). Considering that public education covers 87.98% of Mexican students, it can be assumed that the financial cost of the government to implement these platforms would be extremely high. It would be necessary then to search for the collaboration between the government and enterprise to finance the implementation of these

Another point in consideration is the training of the personnel. Since the teaching staff is not accustomed to using these technologies, trained personnel need to instruct them about the correct use of the platforms, as well as how they can be implemented into their educational curricula effectively. In this case, the problem would be the lack of trained people, since the use of SAR platforms is relatively new

It should probably take around 12 years to develop a national implementation program that covers the creation of collaboration projects between the government

the control group to generate the comparison as well.

**54**

in Mexico.

*Number of schools in Mexico [23].*

and enterprise, the acquisition of enough platforms to cover national population, the training of engineers for the platform manipulation and methodology design, and the training of the teaching staff of every school personnel.

The use of SAR platforms in the Mexican healthcare system is a little more complex to achieve. Since last year's change of administration, the healthcare system in Mexico has sustained multiple structural changes. It would then be necessary to wait at least 3 years until the new system is sufficiently accomplished to start considering the use of SAR technologies to support medical labor. At the same time, there are other problems regarding the number of medical professionals and medical access that made the suggestion of SAR platforms difficult. Nevertheless, those aspects are out of the scope of this chapter.

It can be said generally that the use of SAR technologies in Mexico is still in the phase of experimental evaluation, where these platforms are being used in particular situations to evaluate the future possibility of national implementation.

### **5. Conclusions**

The different scenarios mentioned in this chapter show the importance that has been given to socially assistive robots in both occupational therapy sessions and educational purposes. The few examples show promising results, as well as the desire of researchers to continue evaluating how these platforms are capable of improving the quality of life of the population in different areas. However, it is still necessary to mention the obstacles that still need to be solved in the future.

The first problem is that currently, robotic platforms, as the ones mentioned through the chapter, are expensive, making it difficult for different national institutions to acquire one platform. At the same time, there are not enough people capable of operating and giving maintenance to the robot, which transforms the platform into obsolete after some time.

Another difficulty presented in this work is that every reference and experiment mentioned was only experimental. Hence, only a small population is capable of benefiting from the use of the platform. A socially assistive robot will only be utterly efficient until most of the population benefits from its use. The idea is to use these platforms to improve the quality of life of everyone. Unfortunately, it is still necessary to develop economic and social policies besides the technological that befits the use of such inventions.

### *Industrial Robotics - New Paradigms*

Even though the use of robotic platforms is becoming more usual, there are still areas of opportunity that need to be considered before using this technology regularly. However, it does not mean that the advancements achieved so far are less critical. On the contrary, these studies demonstrate the feasibility of using robotics in a more human-like way, improving the way we communicate and perform our duties in society.
