Thursday, January 15, 2015

This exercise coach is ready whenever you are

My Paper, Thursday, January 15, 2015, Page A1, Top Stories
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/emnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2015-01-15
Source Website: http://mypaper.sg/top-stories/exercise-coach-ready-whenever-you-are-20150115
By Lester Hio, lesterh@sph.com.sg, mypaper, Published on Jan 15, 2015


TIRELESS TRAINER: Meet Xuan, an exercise robot developed by students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. It is available to guide senior citizens at the Lions Befrienders Senior Activity Centre in Mei Ling Street.
PHOTO: TIRELESS TRAINER: Meet Xuan, an exercise robot developed by students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. It is available to guide senior citizens at the Lions Befrienders Senior Activity Centre in Mei Ling Street.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO 
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http://mypaper.sg/top-stories/exercise-coach-ready-whenever-you-are-20150115


SENIORS at an activity centre can now exercise any time they want, thanks to a robot designed by Ngee Ann Polytechnic students.

The robot, named Xuan, features a tablet with an animated face on top of a plastic structure. Its neck, arms and wrists are able to fully mimic human movements.

It is supposed to act as an exercise coach for the 40 senior citizens who frequent the Lions Befrienders Senior Activity Centre in Mei Ling Street.

Xuan can give instructions on 15 simple arm exercises focusing on flexibility and circulation, such as raising one's hands above the head before lowering them.

At the same time, it will also perform actions that the elderly can follow and mimic. Written instructions will also be flashed on an LCD screen on its chest.

Ang Kwee Eng, 74, who goes to the centre every day, said she finds the exercises "refreshing".

"The actions are slow and easy to do, and it's good to be moving about, or else my bones will be stiff," she said in Mandarin.

Xuan has been at the activity centre since last month, undergoing trials and test sessions with the senior citizens. It is now available for any of them to use.

"Now, the elderly don't have to wait for scheduled exercise sessions," said Goh Boo Han, executive director of Lions Befrienders.

"They can approach any of the staff to start the robot and exercise whenever they want."

By Lester Hio, lesterh@sph.com.sg, mypaper, Published on Jan 15, 2015



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