Robots Are Caring for Elderly People in Europe
May 6th, 2014Via: Vice:
Judging by recent surveys, most people seem to think that robots that are actually useful will lead to some sort of apocalyptic machine uprising. But look past the military bots and automated job-stealers, and one of the most obvious applications of a service robot is an entirely unthreatening task humans are increasingly failing to meet demand for: caring.
Six elderly people across Europe currently have a new companion: a GiraffPlus robot, or Mr. Robin, as one 94-year-old taking part in the trial rather adorably calls it in the video below. It’s part of an EU-funded project to use robotics to help elderly people who want to stay at home remain independent past the point they’d usually be unable to live alone due to physical or cognitive difficulties.
Life Imitates Art: Robot and Frank
I gotta admit, after seeing “Robot & Frank,” I want one. In the pretty near future, with the young ones having autism and the old ones, dementia – we are going to need all the help we can get. Hope it can clean toilets…