How to democratize robotics for neurodiverse individuals? (with Richard Margolin, Robokind)

In this episode, we connect the dots with robotics.

Despite many efforts focused on building of inclusive ecosystems, classrooms and workplaces, over 80% of neurodiverse individuals are still not employed full-time in countries like the US or UK. Another problem is, that not only neurodiverse individuals but technology solutions for them struggle to be presented as well. Though potential market and opportunity are enormous, successful university spinoffs working on inclusive technologies face significant issues while scaling its work due to the inability to meet traditional venture capital metrics and scenarios. How could we democratize such solutions as social robotics or assistive devices? How to make it accessible to everyone? How to spread it across schools, educators and researchers?

Today’s conversation with Richard Margolin from Robokind. Over a decade, Mark has been working on social robotics for neurodiverse individuals, trying to make it more compact, accessible and effective for different types of audiences and cases. Unlike many others, Robokind is not just “robot” or “hardware” developer, but a learning company first, building a diverse range of collaborative robots and instructional programs that have a mission to reimagine classrooms into inclusive ecosystems. Richard believes, that the neurodiversity and inclusion tech market presents an enormous opportunity both for technologists and investors. Though, it’s still underrepresented.

Topics & timeline

• Adaptive & social robotics
• Neurodiversity and unemployment
• Building social robots
• Milo, Jett, Robon
• Robotics in 2011 and 2020
• Hardware vs learning company
• Building curriculums
• Fitting different spectrums
• Robotics at schools
• Educators and robots
• Inclusive tech
• Future of social robotics
• Etc

This episode is related to neurodiversity, AI and technology.