From Robo-Toys to Mechanical Bears: Your Future Carers May Be Robots
Japanese firms are betting on robots to look after our ageing populations in the future
Samuel Gibbs et al. | December 3, 2015
From robotic toys that simulate pets for companionship, to big mechanical bears that can physically carry you between beds and wheelchairs – all with a friendly smile – the robots aren’t only coming to take your jobs, but to take care of older people too.
Japan’s Honda is arguably one of the world’s leaders in at-home robotics, with Asimo its flagship mini-humanoid. But now Japanese automotive firm Toyota is attempting to thrust itself into the growing market of robotic caring with a Silicon Valley partnership.
 |
| What difference can robots make to the lives of elderly people living alone? Robots can help with cleaning and other tasks, thus reducing the work that elderly people might have to do in their own homes; a special category of robots can even offer a form of companionship. Source: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/blog/robot-companion-elderly-balancing-autonomy-and-ethics |
<more at http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/03/robo-toys-mechanical-bears-future-carers-robots-japan; related links: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/blog/robot-companion-elderly-balancing-autonomy-and-ethics (March 13, 2014) http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/28/8507049/robear-robot-bear-japan-elderly (This cuddly Japanese robot bear could be the future of elderly care. 'Bears are powerful and also cute.' April 28, 2015)>
No comments:
Post a Comment