The delegation of social workers from Cambodia, Mongolia, Laos and Thailand visited NAIST as part of a training program sponsored by the Foundation for the Welfare and Education of the Asian People on October 4th. Since 1978, the Foundation has run this training program which is a study visit of Japan for the people involving in projects for orphans or single-parent families in Asian countries in order to deepen mutual understanding of each country's welfare system.

They were welcomed by President Isogai, who greeted them with a speech. Executive Director Shinmyo introduced NAIST briefly.

Afterwards, the members of the Robotics Laboratory introduced and demonstrated aspects of their research which could be applied to social welfare: an assistant device with Pneumatic Rubber Artificial Muscles and Actroid, a humanoid which can be controlled by using both face direction and gaze direction.