Machines with Heart: Utilizing an STS Framework to Analyze Implementation and Design of Social Eldercare Robots in Germany and Japan

Robots are everywhere from car factories to cafes, but many people may not realize robots are quite popular in assisted living residencies for older adults. Social eldercare robots (SER) provide care to older adults without relying on human labor, offering a lucrative promise of technological efficiency during global labor crises. However, their adaptation into care settings is not this simple. Human trust in robots is rooted in nuanced social, cultural, and historical factors, making SER a highly interpretively flexible technology. This thesis analyzes social eldercare robot implementation in two countries, Germany and Japan, using a Science, Technology and Society (STS) framework. By investigating how service animals, perception of migrant labor, and religious factors impact social eldercare robot use, I argue acceptance of SER is highly bound to local beliefs about caretaking, spirituality, and what it truly means to be alive

Robotic Rabbit Companions: amusing or a nuisance?

Most of the studies in human-robot interaction involve controlled experiments in a laboratory and only a limited number of studies have put robotic companions into people’s home. Introducing robots into a real-life environment does not only pose many technical challenges but also raises several methodological issues. And even though there might be a gain in ecological validity of the findings, there are other drawbacks that limit the validity of the results. In this paper we reflect on some of these issues based on the experience we gained in the SERA project where a robotic companion was put in the homes of a few people for ten days. We try to draw some general lessons from this experience

Acceptance of a minimal design of a human infant for facilitating affective interaction with older adults: A case study toward interactive doll therapy

H. Sumioka, M. Shiomi, N. Yamato and H. Ishiguro, "Acceptance of a minimal design of a human infant for facilitating affective interaction with older adults: A case study toward interactive doll therapy*," 2020 29th IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN), Naples, Italy, 2020, pp. 775-780, doi: 10.1109/RO-MAN47096.2020.9223613.The 29th IEEE International Conference on Robot & Human Interactive Communication [31 AUG - 04 SEPT, 2020

Application of service robots in rehabilitation and support of patients

Jedan od ključnih faktora razvoja servisne robotike su identificirani trendovi stanovništva treće dobi. U svijetu postoji trend porasta radnika koji odlaze u mirovinu i starije populacije stanovništva. Servisna robotika pred sobom ima izazov i priliku da nađe rješenja koja će zadovoljiti tu populaciju stanovništva sa stanovišta njihove zdravstvene, socijalne pomoći te im pružiti kompletnu pomoć i njegu. U radu su prikazani primjeri aplikacije servisnih robota i robotiziranih sustava koji pomažu bolesnicima, hendikepiranim osobama pri obavljanju svakodnevnih poslova i pri rehabilitaciji. Cilj robotske tehnologije razviti je servisne robote koji će imati interaktivnu komunikaciju s bolesnikom, pružiti mu pomoć u obavljanju svakodnevnih poslova, njegov život učiniti kvalitetnijim i sadržajnijim bez stresa.One of the main factors that influenced in service robotic development is identified in aging of human population in various countries. In the world is increased number of retired and aged population. Designers of service robotics has a challenge and chance to find solution which will satisfy these population in regards of social and health care and provide them complete help and support. In this paper application of service robots and robotized systems examples are given which helps to patients, persons with handicaps in performing daily tasks and support in rehabilitation. Aim of robotic technology is developing of service robots which will have interactive communication with patients, give them support in performing daily tasks, make life quality and fulfill without stress

Socially assistive robots as mental health interventions for children : a scoping review

Socially Assistive Robots are promising in their potential to promote and support mental health in children. There is a growing number of studies investigating the feasibility and effectiveness of robot interventions in supporting children’s mental wellbeing. Although preliminary evidence suggests that Socially Assistive Robots may have the potential to help address concerns such as stress and anxiety in children, there is a need for a greater focus in examining the impact of robotic interventions in this population. In order to better understand the current state of the evidence in this field and identify critical gaps, we carried out a scoping review of the available literature examining how social robots are investigated as means to support mental health in children. We identified existing types of robot intervention and measures that are being used to investigate specific mental health outcomes. Overall, our findings suggest that robot interventions for children may positively impact mental health outcomes such as relief of distress and increase positive affect. Results also show that the strength of evidence needs to be improved to determine what types of robotic interventions could be most effective and readily implemented in pediatric mental health care. Based on our findings, we propose a set of recommendations to guide further research in this area

Social robots on a global stage: establishing a role for culture during a Human-Robot interaction

Robotic agents designed to assist people across a variety of social and service settings are becoming increasingly prevalent across the world. Here we synthesise two decades of empirical evidence from human–robot interaction (HRI) research to focus on cultural influences on expectations towards and responses to social robots, as well as the utility of robots displaying culturally specific social cues for improving human engagement. Findings suggest complex and intricate relationships between culture and human cognition in the context of HRI. The studies reviewed here transcend the often-studied and prototypical east–west dichotomy of cultures, and explore how people’s perceptions of robots are informed by their national culture as well as their experiences with robots. Many of the findings presented in this review raise intriguing questions concerning future directions for robotics designers and cultural psychologists, in terms of conceptualising and delivering culturally sensitive robots. We point out that such development is currently limited by heterogenous methods and low statistical power, which contribute to a concerning lack of generalisability. We also propose several avenues through which future work may begin to address these shortcomings. In sum, we highlight the critical role of culture in mediating efforts to develop robots aligned with human users’ cultural backgrounds, and argue for further research into the role of culturally-informed robotic development in facilitating human–robot interaction

Paro robotherapy in elder people with neurocognitive disorder

Introdução: A Roboterapia-PARO tem vindo a ser reconhecida pelos seus resultados no âmbito das terapias não farmacológicas para pessoas idosas com perturbação neurocognitiva (PNC). Este estudo centra-se na avaliação da resposta da pessoa idosa com PNC major, institucionalizada, a este tipo de terapia. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo quase experimental com avaliações nas fases pré, durante e pós intervenção que avaliou o efeito da Roboterapia-PARO em idosos com PNC major. Incluiu ainda a tradução e adaptação cultural do “Caregiver’s Manual for Robotherapy”. Dez participantes foram submetidos a sessões individuais de Roboterapia usando um dispositivo robô com o aspeto de uma foca bebé (PARO). As sessões tiveram 30 minutos de duração, duas vezes por semana, durante 8 semanas. No período pré e pós intervenção foram aplicadas, a cada participante, as escalas Global Deterioration Scale – para avaliar o grau de deterioração cognitiva, Inventário Neuropsiquiátrico – para avaliar os sintomas neuropsiquiátricos e Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia – para avaliar os estados de depressão. Nas semanas um, três, seis e oito foi ainda efetuada vídeo-gravação das sessões para avaliação dos comportamentos. Em cada sessão foi utilizada uma grelha observacional para registo dos comportamentos. Resultados: Um total de 8 participantes completaram o estudo. Ao nível do INP verificou-se melhorias significativas (z=−2,00; p = 0,046; dcohen=1,633). O teste de classificação de Wilcoxon mostrou que as habilidades de comunicação verbal (z=−1,73; p = 0,083; dcohen=1,414), relação interpessoal (z=−1,00; p = 0,317; dcohen=0,707) e interação com a PARO (z=−1,134; p = 0,257; dcohen=0,817) obtiveram um grande tamanho de efeito , que corresponde a melhoria após as sessões de Roboterapia-PARO. Conclusões: Foram verificadas melhorias graduais ao nível da comunicação verbal, expressão facial, relação interpessoal, interação com a PARO, aumento da frequência e duração do olhar, gestos e das manifestações de humor dos participantes. A implementação das terapias não farmacológicas no plano de cuidados diários das pessoas idosas com PNC pode trazer múltiplos benefícios no controlo dos SNP.Introduction: Robotherapy-PARO has been recognized for its results in the context of non-pharmacological therapies for elderly people with neurocognitive impairment (PNC). This study focuses on the evaluation of the elderly person's response with PNC major, institutionalized, for this type of therapy. Methods: It is an quasi experimental study with assessments in the pre, during and post-intervention phases that evaluated the effect of Robotherapy-PARO on elderly people with PNC major. It also included the translation and cultural adaptation of the "Caregiver's Manual for Robotherapy". Ten participants were submitted to individual Robotherapy sessions using a robot device with the appearance of a baby seal (PARO). The sessions were 30 minutes long, twice a week, for 8 weeks. In the pre and post intervention period, each participant was administered, the Global Deterioration Scale scales – to assess the degree of cognitive deterioration, Neuropsychiatric Inventory – to assess neuropsychiatric symptoms and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia – to assess the states of depression. In the weeks one, three, six and eight, video-recording sessions were also carried out for the evaluation of the behaviors. Results: A total of 8 participants have completed the study. At the INP level, significant improvements were observed (z=−2,00; p = 0,046; dcohen=1,633). The Wilcoxon classification test showed that verbal communication skills (z=−1,73; p = 0,083; dcohen=1,414), Interpersonal relationship (z=−1,00; p = 0,317; dcohen=0,707) and interaction with the PARO (z=−1,134; p = 0,257; dcohen=0,817) a large size of effect was obtained, which corresponds to improvement after the sessions of Robotherapy-PARO. Conclusions: Gradual improvements were verified at the level of verbal communication, facial expression, interpersonal relationship, interaction with PARO, increase in the frequency and duration of the participants ' glances, gestures and mood manifestations. The implementation of non-pharmacological therapies in the daily care plan of elderly people with PNC may bring multiple benefits in the control of SNP