The Elderly Now Have Someone to Keep Them Company with the Actroid-F
Omar Yusuf — October 26, 2011 — Tech
With an increasing number of adults eschewing responsibility and hoisting their aging parents into the indifferent arms of retirement homes, a warm, caring person to watch their elders is a necessity, which is where the Actroid-F comes in.
Although the researchers at Tokyo's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science have demonstrated the humanoid fidelity of earlier androids, they've just unveiled a newer, more masculine model. Although the hope is to test for cultural preferences (a male vs. female robot), both versions have already been introduced to hospitals and old folks homes in the hopes of monitoring their health, providing witty banter and soothing them in general. Thus far, field studies have shown that most people welcome the presence of the curious, albeit mechanical bots. The bedside manner of the Actroid-F, however, is lacking, particularly since the androids only retain freedom of motion above the neck.
Although the researchers at Tokyo's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science have demonstrated the humanoid fidelity of earlier androids, they've just unveiled a newer, more masculine model. Although the hope is to test for cultural preferences (a male vs. female robot), both versions have already been introduced to hospitals and old folks homes in the hopes of monitoring their health, providing witty banter and soothing them in general. Thus far, field studies have shown that most people welcome the presence of the curious, albeit mechanical bots. The bedside manner of the Actroid-F, however, is lacking, particularly since the androids only retain freedom of motion above the neck.
Trend Themes
1. Elderly Care Robots - In response to aging populations, there is a growing trend to develop robots to help provide companionship and care for the elderly.
2. Gendered Robotics - The creation of male and female robots to test cultural preferences and serve different roles is a trend to watch in the robotics industry.
3. Robot-enhanced Healthcare - Incorporating robots into hospitals and care homes to monitor patients and provide emotional support is a growing trend with disruptive potential for the healthcare industry.
Industry Implications
1. Robotics - The increasing demand for robots in elderly care and healthcare highlights an opportunity in the robotics industry to create more advanced, functional machines for these specific applications.
2. Healthcare - Incorporating robots into healthcare settings has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs, presenting a disruptive innovation opportunity for the healthcare industry.
3. Aging-in-place Technology - Technologies, such as the Actroid-F robot, could disrupt the aging-in-place industry by providing a cost-effective means of care for elderly individuals who wish to remain in their own homes.
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