[ExI] Robot caregivers

[BillK]

As the western population ages more people need helpers and carers.
The main developments are in robots, led by Japan which leads the
world in an ageing population.
The speed of development is impressive.

One article lists the areas where robots are already in use:

Hospitals – robots travel to patient rooms in the hospital and perform
stroke diagnostics. They can talk to the patient, review the medical
record and interact with a physician who is in another location.
Rehabilitation therapy – robotic exoskeletons are helping people stand
on their own and walk. There are also robotic prosthetics that can
help people with disabilities grasp and maneuver objects in their
environment.
Companions and socialization – robots are used to keep seniors
company. They can converse with seniors, give them medication
reminders and help them maintain an improved quality of life assisting
with their needs. Socialization with a robotic animal can help seniors
and caregivers.
Home monitoring – computer devices that monitor patterns of activity,
including eating and physical activity as well as safety with that
data sent to caregivers remotely.
Cleaning – vacuum cleaners that clean while we do other things, window
cleaners that wash the windows, robots that mop the floor, robotic
lawn mowers that keep the yard trimmed, and even pool cleaning robots.
Home security – while this is in its infant stage, home security
especially with the use of drones can help keep the property secured.
In home visits – there is a telepresence robot that can do home visits
with patients who are homebound when the caregiver is in another
remote location. The robot can move throughout the senior’s home and
get a bird’s eye view of the environment and the patient. It can also
give them medication reminders and other prompts.
Mobile service robot – CareBot telepresence has been tested in an
actual home environment assisting older adults. It interacts with the
older adults, answers questions, assists with daily tasks and operates
remotely to give the caregiver both audio and video feed. It can
deliver emergency notifications to remote caregivers such as a fall or
fire calling 911 for you.

This article describes some of the latest robot caregivers.
<http://robohub.org/robots-that-may-help-you-in-your-silver-age/>


BillK