RE: ADSactly Tech News - Robotic Cats That Help the Elderly Reporting for Work!
Pretty cool. It's important for the elderly to find purpose in their life. Even if this cat is a robot, it helps to fill that void for companionship and to feel needed.
Japan is taking this need for the elderly very seriously. They have 20% elderly rate in their country and know that robots can take a serious role in helping them in assisted living.
Japanese companies are leading in the development of Carebots.
Carebots are robots specifically designed to assist elderly people, and it's an industry that's growing in a big way. One-third of the Japanese government's budget is allocated to developing carebots.
The global personal robot market, which includes carebots, could reach $17.4 billion by 2020, according to the Merrill Lynch report.
For example, Honda's Asimo robot is an autonomous, humanoid robot that could help the elderly by getting them food or turning off lights.
"ASIMO was designed to help those in society who need assistance," said Satoshi Shigemi, senior chief engineer of humanoid robots in Japan, at an event last year.
What a good idea. My mother was in a nursing home for dementia before she died. She always loved cats and this would have been of comfort to her.
I totally want a carebot for myself! If it could just blow-dry and style my hair (ala the Jetsons) I would be sold. My parents could really use one but I wonder if it would creep them out. I could see them accepting the robo-cat (or maybe preferably a robo-dog - as we were always dog people) more easily.
Very nice post. Thank you bro.
The Japanese are making amazing strides in robotics! I'm extremely impressed with their newest generation of robotic friends!
Yeah, they are the leaders in this area. And they have a huge motivation to get it right asap! Their aging population is huge!