Tuesday, April 24, 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Robotic dog is high-tech playmate
By Cary Dreher
writer@kansan.com
Special to the Kansan
Shortly before recess, 9-year-old Brittany Young colors while her robotic puppy sits patiently at the edge of her desk. Young is a third-grader in Pam Schilling's class at Schweaker Elementary School. Photo by Selena Jabara/KANSAN
Pam Schilling's students crowd on the floor of their classroom at Schwegler Elementary School. Every eye is focused on Tekno, the robotic puppy, performing in the middle of their tight huddle. Everyone cheers as the mechanical dog dazzles the audience with his impressive tricks.
"I want to get a Tekno dog because my Furby needs a pet. If Tekno barked at her she would say 'loud sound,'" said third-grader Joyce Bohling.
Tekno the robotic dog executes many feats that an actual dog can't. Tekno barks, walks and wags his tail. But he also talks, sings, dances, laughs, howls and passes gas with instruction and a little extra programming.
Tekno will also never die as long as you charge his batteries. However, those who work with kids say Tekno cannot substitute for the responsibilities and life lessons that a live man's best-friend would teach a child.
April Rein, guidance counselor at Schwegler, said Tekno might temporarily satisfy a child's want for a pet, but would not take the place of a life-long companion because it was just a toy. Rein said the presence of a real pet might significantly change a child's attitude and behavior.
Not only does Rein draw from her knowledge of having a master's degree in elementary counseling, she also draws from her experience of being a lifelong pet owner herself. She said people, including children, really respond to an interaction with animals. They tend to lead happier, healthier lives.
"I think a lot of kids just want to be needed. Taking care of a pet gives that to them," Rein said.
Many of the children in Schilling's class had both robotic toys and domestic animals. The students agreed that real dogs were more fun. One student taught his dog how to jump through a Hoola Hoop. Another student said she jumped on the trampoline with her three dogs and it was a lot more fun than playing with Tekno.
"I like real dogs because you can tell them to sit and stay. Tekno just keeps walking," said student Tyrkel Truzel.
One benefit of Tekno instead of a real dog is that the toy spares kids from experiencing the trauma of a pet's death. Schwegler third-grader Rinney Taylor said he wanted his mom to buy him a Tekno dog because his real dog had died.
"I was at school when he died,
and when I came home I didn't
know where he was," he said.
Rein said the issue of a pet's death had come up in classroom visits, but it was not something she normally discussed with students. She said encouraging
"I want to get a Tekno dog because my Furby needs a pet."
Joyce Bohling
third-grader at Schwegler Elementary
students to perform extra tasks throughout the day helped them deal with emotions.
"I just try to equip them with coping skills in dealing with loss, disappointment and loneliness," Rein said.
Tekno pets are available at many local department stores including Wal-mart, Target, JC Penney and Walgreen's. The pets are sold for about $39, and some stores have trouble keeping them in stock. Walgreen's manager Pepper Whitely said the store is currently sold out of the robo-pets.
"Since Christmas we have ordered more Tekno dogs every week and only received one or two from our warehouse," she said.
As the crowd of excited thirdgraders surrounded Tekno, he performed exactly how they expected. The toy then stopped and began to walk out of the circle, barking as he went. Someone in the circle clapped, prompting Tekno's sound sensors to instruct him to walk. Tekno finished with playtime, and it was time for Mrs. Schilling's class to get back to work.
— Edited by Brandy Straw
Clinic to help runners improve technique and answer questions
By Livi Regenbaum
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Runners will have an opportunity to get their questions answered about injuries and efficient running methods next week.
The physical therapy department at Watkins Memorial Health Center is sponsoring a runner's clinic today and tomorrow.
Karen Loudon, physical therapist at Watkins, said the runner's clinic was a place where students could seek advice from physical therapists and a physician on correct running techniques and how to heal from injuries.
Students who visit the clinic go through several exercises in order to evaluate their running techniques, Loudon said.
The therapists film them running in order to analyze their running forms and make suggestions. One common problem is that if runners swing their arms to much, they can injure their arms.
Dawn Fordice, office specialist at the Computer Center Continuing Education Building, said she had benefited from the runner's clinic.
RUNNER'S CLINIC
When: 1 to 4 p.m. today and 9 to 11 a.m. tomorrow
and suggested ways that I could improve and showed me what I was doing well."
Eve Lamborn, Colorado Springs, Colo., sophomore and member of the track team, said the runner's clinic was an important educational resource for runners.
Where: Watkins Memorial Health Center
Loudon said the clinic would also have educational handouts and brochures on running. She said she hoped the clinic would help runners and encourage them to take advantage of services offered by the physical therapy department.
"If they analyze your running stride, it is good for preventing future injuries," she said. "I think it would be helpful for recreational runners to get expert advice about their running."
"We are trying to offer to help offer advice and information to runners, if they have questions about their form, as well as people who are injured or had previous injury and wanted to prevent it," she said.
Watkins prefers that students make an appointment. For more information call 864-9592.
Edited by Jason McKee
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Lawrence Transit System
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5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Holcom Park Recreation Center
2700 W.27th
Hear about proposed changes & offer comments. Route information available at City Manager's Office, Lawrence Public Library reference desk, or online at www.lawrenceks.org Written comments due April 26 to public transit administrator, PO Box 708, Lawrence 60044, (785) 832-3465.
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