AI patients admitted to training ward
AI-powered patients are being used to help train a college's next generation of healthcare workers.
Mannequins that communicate through artificial intelligence will help Darlington College health and social care students hone their skills.
The robotic "patients", which recognise and respond to speech, react realistically to a range of healthcare scenarios.
Lecturer Sarah Lloyd said: "Students will be able to ask them questions, take their pulse and even shock them with a defibrillator."
The mannequins are programmed to respond to a variety of ailments, from headaches to heart problems.
In June they will be admitted to the college's new healthcare training facility, which incorporates a mock hospital ward, GP surgery and nursing home.
Realistic environments at the facility are designed to familiarise students with workplace settings.
They will use the mannequins to practice patient handling and carry out a range of procedures, from taking blood pressure to administering injections and placing catheters.
The AI patients, designed to "build critical thinking and decision-making", include men, women and children of varying ages and sizes.
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