A firm, Pecoo Technologies, has lamented children’s over-dependency on screen, leading to loss of situational awareness and negative impact on the brain and eyes.

Parents were, therefore, counselled to minimise their children’s exposure to gadgets to enable them to explore their abilities to create and innovate.

This also prompted the firm to create Pecoo Kids AI Robot to avert exposure to unsolicited contents, screen dependency and solve children’s curiosity by engaging their listening ability, which helps the brain to create more contents, such as imagery and creativity of words.

Managing Director of the firm, Esohe Idemudia, said the robot is non-visual and would engage the children through their listening ability, thereby developing their brain cells, adding that X-rated content has been eliminated from the point of programming.

“It’s easier to watch than listen. Though listening takes more efforts, with it, the children have to focus more. Listening engages their brain cells. Children can now minimise time spent on gadgets and parents wouldnow have a trusted companion for them.

“Pecoo robots help to stimulate creativity and imagination in children. It engages in story telling, creative plays and imaginative scenarios, which encourages children to think outside the box,” she said.

According to her, the robot could also be used for communication where a parent could message the child.