A Robot Activity Support (RAS) system for persons with memory impairment: Comparing older and younger adults' perceptions of the system (original) (raw)

Assistive technology design and development for acceptable robotics companions for ageing years

Paladyn, Journal of Behavioral Robotics, 2013

A new stream of research and development responds to changes in life expectancy across the world. It includes technologies which enhance well-being of individuals, specifically for older people. The ACCOMPANY project focuses on home companion technologies and issues surrounding technology development for assistive purposes. The project responds to some overlooked aspects of technology design, divided into multiple areas such as empathic and social human-robot interaction, robot learning and memory visualisation, and monitoring persons’ activities at home. To bring these aspects together, a dedicated task is identified to ensure technological integration of these multiple approaches on an existing robotic platform, Care-O-Bot®3 in the context of a smart-home environment utilising a multitude of sensor arrays. Formative and summative evaluation cycles are then used to assess the emerging prototype towards identifying acceptable behaviours and roles for the robot, for example role as a...

New technologies and assistive robotics for elderly: A review on psychological variables

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus, 2024

The article reviews recent research on new technologies for assisting the elderly based on Artificial Intelligence: Utilities for smart houses and Ambient Assisted Living, wearable and monitoring devices, virtual and augmented reality, and assistive robotics. These smart technological tools can reduce the isolation of older adults by assisting them in their daily activities, but without completely replacing direct interventions, and requiring human support to facilitate interaction. In determining the effectiveness of assistive technologies, older people's perceptions of them, acceptability, and willingness to use them are key variables. Also relevant is the perception by caregivers and healthcare professionals, and the socio-cultural dimension of acceptability. Finally, the paper presents the ethical issues related to the use of technologies with the elderly population, to ensure the autonomy, safety, and dignity of the person. Some suggestions are offered for developers of new technologies for older adults. In conclusion, the challenges for the future of assistive technologies are highlighted, so that they can best be used to assist large and differentiated elderly populations.

AI and robotics to help older adults: Revisiting projects in search of lessons learned

Paladyn, Journal of Behavioral Robotics, 2021

This article is a retrospective overview of work performed in the domain of Active Assisted Living over a span of almost 18 years. The authors have been creating and refining artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics solutions to support older adults in maintaining their independence and improving their quality of life. The goal of this article is to identify strong features and general lessons learned from those experiences and conceive guidelines and new research directions for future deployment, also relying on an analysis of similar research efforts. The work considers key points that have contributed to increase the success of the innovative solutions grounding them on known technology acceptance models. The analysis is presented with a threefold perspective: A Technological vision illustrates the characteristics of the support systems to operate in a real environment with continuity, robustness, and safety; a Socio-Health perspective highlights the role of experts in the socio...

Results of Field Trials with a Mobile Service Robot for Older Adults in 16 Private Households

ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction

In this article, we present results obtained from field trials with the Hobbit robotic platform, an assistive, social service robot aiming at enabling prolonged independent living of older adults in their own homes. Our main contribution lies within the detailed results on perceived safety, usability, and acceptance from field trials with autonomous robots in real homes of older users. In these field trials, we studied how 16 older adults (75 plus) lived with autonomously interacting service robots over multiple weeks. Robots have been employed for periods of months previously in home environments for older people, and some have been tested with manipulation abilities, but this is the first time a study has tested a robot in private homes that provided the combination of manipulation abilities, autonomous navigation, and non-scheduled interaction for an extended period of time. This article aims to explore how older adults interact with such a robot in their private homes. Our resul...