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Robots to care for the elderly in Japan

Uploaded on Jul 28, 2010

A robot expo kicks-off in Tokyo today. One-of-a-kind robots are exhibited, as they can provide care for the elderly.

The latest and greatest robots were on display in Tokyo on Wednesday. The Robotech expo showcased technologies that will help seniors stay independent even in old age.

A team of graduate students and researchers at the University of Electro-Communications presented "DiGORO."

[Takayuki Nagai, Associate Professor, University of Electro-Communications]:
"If you show the robot objects such as plates, cups it will remember them. You can then tell it the name of the object and it will learn it and you can just say the object's name and it will get it for you."

Equipped with a high-performance camera and guided by six computers, "DiGORO" is programmed to be of help to elderly people who may suffer from dementia as it can also recognize people's faces.

Also on display was the "RAPUDA," or Robotic Arm for Persons with Upper-limb Disabilities, developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.

The arm was created to help the disabled in everyday life. It is controlled through a remote control and it is portable.

[Woo-Keun Yoon, Nat'l. Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Tech.]:
"Up until now, it's been necessary to ask someone to help you when drinking and you had to continue relying on people for the rest of your life. If you use a robot in those situations, it might be slower, but you can drink your cup of tea at your own pace. Being able to do this is also good for one's mental well being."

Sources say the elderly will make up around 40 percent of the population in Japan by the middle of the century.

Japan has one of the world's fastest ageing societies and experts say robots can help care for the growing number of elderly.
 

The soft side of robots: elderly care

Published on May 9, 2016

Japan is looking into robotic solutions to look after its ageing population. The FT’s Kana Inagaki explores the emotional and physical care being provided, and asks whether it is ethical for machines to look after older people.
 
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