Children are introduced to 'Engkey' - a robot assistant operated remotely by English teachers in the PhilippinesThe 3.3ft high machines have a TV panel that displays a female Caucasian face and can wheel around the classroom while speaking to the students. The robots are also able to read books and dance to music moving their head and arms.
But despite appearances the robots, developed the Korea Institute of Science of Technology, are not autonomous beings.
They are actually controlled remotely by English teachers living in the Philippines, who can see and hear the children via a remote control system.
Cameras then detect the teachers' facial expressions and reflect them on the avatar's face.
The robots will teach after-school classes at 21 schools in the south-eastern city of Daegu.
'Well-educated, experienced Filipino teachers are far cheaper than their counterparts elsewhere, including South Korea,' Sagong Seong-Dae, a senior scientist at KIST.
Pupils often assume their teachers don't really exist outside the school gates, now robot classroom assistants could make this a reality.
Almost 30 egg-shaped robots have started teaching English at primary schools in South Korea.
Educational officials in Daegu applaud the robot teacher, which can move its arms and wheel around the floorApart from reading books, the robots use pre-programmed software to sing songs and play alphabet games with the children.
She stressed the robots, which cost £5,600 each, will provide extra support for teachers but not replace them.
The four-month pilot programme was sponsored by the government, which invested £900,000.
source: dailymail
