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Katsumi Kasahara/AP
Model Miki Murakami holds mental commitment robot Paro, one of the winners of the
Robot of the Year 2006 award by Japan's Economy, Trade and Industries Ministry.
Model Miki Murakami holds mental commitment robot Paro, one of the winners of the
Robot of the Year 2006 award by Japan's Economy, Trade and Industries Ministry.
Robotic Baby Seal Immigrates to U.S.
June 30, 2008 07:00 AM
by
Rachel Balik
A robotic seal used to treat loneliness and dementia in Japanese nursing homes makes its way to America.
30-Second Summary
By 2010, 28 percent of Japan’s population will be over 65. That means there will be a dearth of young people to serve as caretakers, so the technologically inclined country has explored other alternatives. Scientists at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology spent 12 years developing Paro, a robotic baby seal, and now, after successful implementation in nursing homes in Japan, Paro is making its way to the United States.
Paro is considered an improvement over Aibo, a robotic dog invented and discontinued a few years ago. Scientists found that Aibo also had a positive effect on the elderly. A study at Saint Louis University sent one group of patients to play with a real dog, and another to play with Aibo. Professor of geriatric medicine William A. Banks reported that “they worked almost equally well in terms of alleviating loneliness and causing residents to form attachments.”
Aibo did not look or feel like a real dog, however, and Sony canceled production. Scientists feel that, because most people have never encountered a live seal pup, it will be easier for them to accept Paro as a pet. But one physician and professor of aging is wary. “I have no doubt that I could thrill a group of older people with a fur-covered robot. … But it doesn’t solve anything.”
Paro is considered an improvement over Aibo, a robotic dog invented and discontinued a few years ago. Scientists found that Aibo also had a positive effect on the elderly. A study at Saint Louis University sent one group of patients to play with a real dog, and another to play with Aibo. Professor of geriatric medicine William A. Banks reported that “they worked almost equally well in terms of alleviating loneliness and causing residents to form attachments.”
Aibo did not look or feel like a real dog, however, and Sony canceled production. Scientists feel that, because most people have never encountered a live seal pup, it will be easier for them to accept Paro as a pet. But one physician and professor of aging is wary. “I have no doubt that I could thrill a group of older people with a fur-covered robot. … But it doesn’t solve anything.”
Headline Link: ‘Robotic Baby Seal Coming to U.S. Shores’
A company in Florida will bring a robotic seal from Japan to American hospitals and homes for the elderly. The robot is intended to help patients cope with dementia and loneliness. The seal reacts to humans, is covered in plush fur and makes noises recorded from a real seal pup. “I've kind of gotten attached to her, and I can see how people can get attached to her,” one Virginia nurse said. But Bill Thomas, a physician and professor of aging studies, is less impressed. “It doesn't solve the problem that is really causing their distress and their lack of enjoyment of life," he said.
Source: NPR
Background: Robotic animals aid the elderly
Paro was well received at a nursing home in Nanto City, Japan. Nurses reported that patients attempted to nurture Paro by wrapping him in blankets and trying to feed him. Scientists believe this great success was because Paro looks more lovable than an earlier electronic pet: Aibo, a robotic dog. Aibo was not covered in fur, but Purdue University researchers found that he also provided consolation. One study participant, 93-year-old Louise Crooks, said, “Being in a nursing home by myself, I entertained myself for many hours playing with this dog, getting him to do new tricks.”
Source: Forbes
A study in a St. Louis nursing home found that elderly patients who visited Aibo, a robotic dog, had the same positive results as a group that visited with Sparky, a live dog trained in therapy. Both groups of patients who visited either dog felt less lonely after spending time with a dog, although the group that visited Aibo took longer to grow accustomed to the electronic animal.
Source: Sky News
Opinion & Analysis: Are robotic pets the real deal?
After hearing about all the nursing homes that owned Paro, the staff at the Japanese branch of a trend-spotting company decided that they had to get one of their own. Paro was a huge hit. The C Scout blog enthusiastically reports, “Immediately out of the box we were blown away by the instant attachment it brought out of us, and had no choice but to treat it as a real, living creature.”
Source: Trends in Japan
A 2005 study indicated that playing with Paro could actually improve the brain functioning of elderly patients who suffered from cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s. The study also found that playing with the seal was useful as a preventative measure against developing such disorders in elderly patients. Researchers noted that patients had fewer expectations about what a real seal would look like than they would have had about a cat or dog. Thus, it was easier for them to suspend disbelief and treat the robot like a pet.
Source: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
BBC Go Digital’s Jon Wurtzel wrote about his experiences with Aibo, a robotic dog developed by Sony. He was initially impressed, writing, “His flexibility seems to surpass gymnasts, and watching him stretch, prance around a room, or chase a ball is entrancing.” However, when Wurtzel realized the dog was already programmed and that he would have no opportunity to train it, it felt less like a real pet. “I grew increasingly frustrated with my inability to develop a mutual relationship with Aibo,” he said.
Source: The BBC
Reference: Japan’s elderly population
In 2005, The BBC reported that by 2050, a third of Japan’s population would be over 65. In response, the Japanese are turning to technology to provide elderly people with comfort and care.
Source: The BBC
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