Flippo The Robo-Shoe-Fly: A Foot Dwelling Social Wearable Companion

Background

Social interactions in school and office settings traditionally involve few coordinated physical interactions, and most group engagement centers on sharing electronic screens. Wearable robot companions are a promising new direction for encouraging coordinated physical movement and social interaction in group settings. A UC Santa Cruz researcher has developed a wearable social companion that encourages users to interact via physical movement.

Technology Description

A UC Santa Cruz researcher has designed an on-body robot companion, Flippo, that attaches to shoes. Flippo is a robot ecosystem designed to encourage wearers to engage in co-located social interaction. The robots have synergistic needs for connection that require users to engage in social interaction. Social interaction results in reactions from the robot, e.g. light and/or haptic responses.

Applications

• Team building in group settings: schools, offices etc. 

Advantages

• Encourages real-world social interactions
• Requires physical movement
• Fosters non-traditional group interactions 

Intellectual Property Information

Patent Pending

Related Materials

• Flippo the Robo-Shoe-Fly: A Foot Dwelling Social Wearable Companion - 04/25/2020