Lumi is a physical AI interface designed to support children under the age of 12 during learning activities. Through tangible interaction, voice assistance and visual guidance, Lumi provides adaptive help without relying on traditional electronic devices or assistance from another person.
The LightGuide Surface is an illuminated A4 platform placed beneath the worksheet that provides precise visual guidance. After identifying the relevant part of an exercise, Lumi highlights the corresponding area from underneath the paper, allowing children to immediately understand where the explanation applies. This creates a faster, more intuitive learning experience while avoiding interruptions caused by searching through the worksheet.
To accelerate development and build upon a proven platform, Lumi reuses Cubert, an AI colleague system originally developed for Design Thinking sessions. We preserved its core hardware architecture, including the ESP32, Raspberry Pi, RFID technology, facial expression system, and audio components. Building on this foundation, we introduced new interaction concepts such as the Professor Hat, the LightGuide Surface, an integrated camera, and adaptive learning modes, transforming Cubert into a physical AI interface specifically designed to support children's learning through tangible interaction.
