Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guests today are Molly Snyder, Occupational Therapist, and Senior Research Support Specialist at the Center for Assistive Technology (CAT) at the University at Buffalo, and Patrick Tiangco, a Clinical Occupational Therapy student at D’Youville College who's doing his field work at CAT, and we're pleased to have them with us. Your host is yours truly Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program Molly and Patrick. I believe you have a word for people who might have missed some of our previous shows, to tell them that the reason you're able to be with us today is TRAID and if you will sum up what that is?

Guest:  Yeah so TRAID stands for Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities, here at the CAT we house the Western New York location. This program is actually geared to increase awareness for the appropriate use of technology, assistive technology that is for individuals with disabilities. There are 12 TRAID centers throughout New York State. And we currently service Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties. Here we have a variety of technology and devices that are available for a free two month loan, and the devices range all the way up from wheelchairs and wheelchair ramps to toileting systems, bathing systems, computer software, you name it we have a variety of equipment here for loan.

Host:  And we appreciate Molly giving us that information but now it's time to turn the microphone over to our special guest, Patrick Gianco because he is going to give us the lowdown on the JIMU MeeBot. Now this is the first time I've heard about this. Who is that supposed to serve?

Guest:  So as the pleasure of playing with this robot for the past couple of months. It's an educational tool, essentially, it's called JIMU MeeBot. It's made by a company called UBTECH, not associated with University of Buffalo, and their specialization is in servos. So, a servo is motor and electric motor, but it has a capability of precise fluid movement, and that's key for humanoid robotics. So, the MeeBot is a dancing robot.  (laughter) But, yeah, it's pretty cool. It's a dancing robot that uses six servos to move and create movement. But here's the thing, you have to assemble the robot, you have to build it from the bottom up. So, you're not building the servos, the servos come with it, but there's 206 components associated with the robot, and then you have to download the app onto Android or Apple device. The apps called JIMU. And then you can start interacting with the robot, giving it commands. It's a great STEM tool, and educational tool, because you could give us to a potential student who is interested in STEM science, technology, engineering, or math.

Host:  Thank you.

Guest:  And it gives them a very interactive, playful, motivating product that they could use to delve into the STEM field. So besides construction, there's an engineering component and even a coding component, because you could code the robot to activate the servos individually to get it to do exactly what you want. So, it's been my goal for the past couple of weeks to get this dancing robot to do the Macarena. I'm not quite there yet. (laughter)

Host:  How can people call CAT to get more information?

Guest:  They can call the University of Buffalo’s CAT at 716-836-1168 to schedule an appointment to see a demonstration of the robot.

Host:  All right, Molly and Patrick, thank you so much for being with us.

Guest:  Thank you so much.

Host:  You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guests today have been Molly Snyder, Occupational Therapist and Senior Research Support Specialist with CAT at University at Buffalo, and Patrick Tiangco, Clinical Occupational Therapy student at D’Youville College, doing his fieldwork at CAT, and I'm your host, Ernie Churchwell.