I want one too! Domestication of Assistive Robots

Abstract in UndeterminedThe aim of the PhD project is to understand and learn about the characteristics that influence old adults’ acceptance of assistive robots and of robots as social companions. It is also to explore participatory design methods in order to involve old adults in the design process of new technologies. The goal is to apply/implement the results in two robotics systems developed to support old adults in their homes.Through an interactive multi-step design process, a design specification of a robot will be proposed. A first prototype will then be built based on this specification. The prototype will be tested and evaluated with “real” users in a lab setting. The findings will result in an improved design specification and a second prototype will then be built and evaluated by users in their home environments

GlowBots: Robots that Evolve Relationships

GlowBots are small wheeled robots that develop complex relationships between each other and with their owner. They develop attractive patterns which are affected both by user interaction and communication between the robots. The project shows how robots can interact with humans in subtle and sustainable ways for entertainment and enjoyment

Measuring perceived adaptiveness in a robotic eldercare companion

Based on observations in previous experiments with a robotic companion in eldercare and on findings in related literature, we developed the concept of Perceived Adaptiveness. We integrated this in our technology acceptance methodology for robotic eldercare companions and found in a small experiment that adaptiveness of the system as perceived by elderly users is indeed a relevant item, being a direct influence on Perceived Usefulness

Assessing Acceptance of Assistive Social Agent Technology by Older Adults: the Almere Model

This paper proposes a model of technology acceptance that is specifically developed to test the acceptance of assistive social agents by elderly users. The research in this paper develops and tests an adaptation and theoretical extension of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) by explaining intent to use not only in terms of variables related to functional evaluation like perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, but also variables that relate to social interaction. The new model was tested using controlled experiment and longitudinal data collected regarding three different social agents at elderly care facilities and at the homes of older adults. The model was strongly supported accounting for 59-79% of the variance in usage intentions and 49-59% of the variance in actual use. These findings contribute to our understanding of how elderly users accept assistive social agents

Mobile assistive technologies for the visually impaired

There are around 285 million visually impaired people worldwide, and around 370,000 people are registered as blind or partially sighted in the UK. Ongoing advances in information technology (IT) are increasing the scope for IT-based mobile assistive technologies to facilitate the independence, safety, and improved quality of life of the visually impaired. Research is being directed at making mobile phones and other handheld devices accessible via our haptic (touch) and audio sensory channels. We review research and innovation within the field of mobile assistive technology for the visually impaired and, in so doing, highlight the need for successful collaboration between clinical expertise, computer science, and domain users to realize fully the potential benefits of such technologies. We initially reflect on research that has been conducted to make mobile phones more accessible to people with vision loss. We then discuss innovative assistive applications designed for the visually impaired that are either delivered via mainstream devices and can be used while in motion (e.g., mobile phones) or are embedded within an environment that may be in motion (e.g., public transport) or within which the user may be in motion (e.g., smart homes)

Porous PDMS force sensitive resistors

Here we present an elastomeric force sensitive resistor (FSR) made from a porous matrix of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) filled with carbon black. The fabrication process is based on the use of a low cost sacrificial sugar cube scaffold which leads to a highly porous and compressible material. By filling this porous matrix with carbon black we can achieve typical resistance changes from 20 kW to 100 W for an applied 95% compressive strain. This material is suitable for a wide variety of sensing applications which include tactile artificial skin for robotics and solvent detection

Social Robots in Elderly Healthcare: A Burden or a Gift?

The healthcare sector is currently under enormous pressure and the COVID-19 pandemic does not improve this situation. The quality of healthcare will be negatively impacted when this pressure continues in the longer term. In 2050 it is expected that a total of 2.1 billion people will be aged 60+ years old. To overcome the increasing demand for healthcare by this age group, various studies are being conducted into various technological solutions, such as social robots. In this study, the Alpha Mini social robot was used in an experiment to research which tasks a social robot could assist with, to reduce the work pressure of healthcare professionals and to help the elderly live longer at their own homes. The experiment was carried out using interviews with healthcare professionals and informal caregivers about the demonstrated Alpha Mini. In addition to the experiment and interviews a survey was sent out to 237 healthcare organizations in the Netherlands to identify the 1) work pressure, 2) daily tasks, 3) social robot experiences, and 4) the features a social robot should have to gather requirements. The experiment failed due to work pressure at the healthcare organization. The survey resulted in 181 respondents. The results suggest that tasks such as reminders, setting alarms and physiotherapy have a great potential to help the healthcare professional in reducing their work pressure and tasks, and the elderly to be able to stay living longer at their own home

Evaluating Patient Engagement and User Experience of a Positive Technology Intervention: The H-CIM Case

The present chapter will provide an example of an intervention evaluation from the joint viewpoints of patient engagement and user experience. The authors evaluated H-CIM, a technological platform for the intelligent monitoring of physiological data of elderly patients performing physiotherapy exercises. Descriptive quantitative measures, behavioral observation, and qualitative interviews are integrated to evaluate H-CIM ability in (1) guaranteeing a positive experience to its users and (2) supporting them in advancing through a patient engagement development. This contribution would constitute a practical example of how these fundamental factors should be considered and evaluated when implementing positive technology for healthcare