The United States of America’s New York state announced that it will distribute robots to more than 800 elderly people. The purpose is not to assist with household and practical tasks, but to act as digital assistants such as Siri or Alexa to facilitate interaction with your family members and accompany your routine.
The project aims to address a growing problem of isolation and loneliness among seniors, where an estimated 14 million Americans over the age of 65 live alone. The distributed robot was built by the Israeli company Intuition Robotics and is called ElliQ.
According to Greg Olsen, director of the New York State Office on Aging (NYSOFA), ElliQ is “a proactive tool that focuses on what is important to individuals: memories, life validation, interactions with friends and family, and promoting health and general well-being. -be.”
ElliQ has two parts attached to a single base. The first is the “robot” with a microphone and speaker, which is also flexible and gives off light to show who is speaking. The second part consists of a tablet that displays information, photos and makes video calls.
According to the company, the robot can empathize and bond with users, including remembering important life details and aligning its character with that of the elderly. Although it has been in development for years and has passed many tests, distributing it in quantity will be the ultimate test.
discussions
to the website BoundaryAs with most robot-related issues, the implementation of robotic companions is controversial. According to the advocates, it is a necessary tool when people are not available.
Critics say more caution is needed because “machines have the potential to dehumanize their users” and also reflect how disinterested society is towards the elderly. Despite scientific research suggesting that social robots have “the potential to improve the well-being of older adults,” only more extensive testing can draw conclusions.
Source: Tec Mundo
