A special visitor will be making the rounds at Tamworth's nursing homes in March.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Cody is a robot from the Tamworth City Library's innovation hub.
He'll be the star of a new program run by the library's outreach assistant Jacqueline Smith to bring modern technology into aged care facilities.
"A lot of [the residents] have retired long before robotics became the buzzword, and I just think it would be interesting for them to experience technology and ... to have a good understanding of how it works," Ms Smith said.
The roadshow will be stopping at eight homes in the area and feature three sessions: a robotics display, building basic circuits and using virtual reality goggles.
Read also:
Robotics might seem random, but Ms Smith said there's a myth around technology being inaccessible for the older generations.
"Just putting it on the table and making it more tangible ... it can show them that it's a fun thing to do," she said.
However, the most important aspect is simply connecting residents to the community, Ms Smith said.
Nursing homes will be contacted to find out what they'd like Cody to do and library staff will program him in advance.
Cody's potential is "almost limitless", Ms Smith said.
"He'll be singing happy birthday ... he tells the story of Star Wars, and I think he's doing tai chi," she said.
"We'll be explaining to them how that happens. It doesn't just happen by standing the robot up, it's all programmed into Cody."
And, Cody had a message too: "it is a tough gig".
The roadshow will go to Nazareth House, Cottage Homes, McKay, Alblas, Freedom Aged Care, Tamworth Gardens, Moonbi House and Bupa over the month of March.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
