International library news

Connecticut library acquires walking, talking, dancing robots

Connecticut’s Westport Library recently acquired two robots, Vincent and Nancy, which will be used to help teach coding and computer-programming skills, reports the Wall Street Journal. Vincent and Nancy can recognise faces, walk, dance, do tai chi and talk in 19 different languages. Their primary purpose will be to teach the kind of coding and computer-programming skills required to animate such machines, but they may also be programmed to help patrons locate books or greet elementary-school groups that visit the library. The humanoid ‘NEO Evolution’ robots are made by French robotics firm Aldebaran, which has sold about 6000 robots worldwide, mostly to museums and schools. ‘Robotics is the next disruptive technology coming into our lives and we felt it was important to make it accessible to people so they could learn about it,’ said Westport Library executive director Maxine Bleiweis. Westport Library was among the first public libraries in Connecticut to acquire a 3D printer and establish a ‘maker’ space where patrons can practice their computer coding and create DIY technology.

Category: Library news