The pandemic exacerbated the isolation and loneliness of older people, rekindling interest in companion robots, but manufacturers are trying to dampen the expectations of those seeking increasingly interactive animated humanoids and cuddly toys on wheels.
“The pandemic has been an accelerator for us, it’s almost our reason to be today!” points to Antoine Bataille, creator of Cutii, a mobile screen robot, which was presented for the second time at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the major electronics and technology event that kicked off Monday in virtual format.
Cutii allows users to participate in remote activities (games, gymnastics classes, etc.) and talk to their loved ones via video conference, accessible by voice commands.
It can be updated remotely and is equipped with assistance or security functions and alerts in case of problems.
In 2020 the company deployed its robots in some thirty nursing homes in France. The Cutii were intended for sale to private individuals, but the closure changed plans.
“We manage the isolation collectively,” says the head of the French start-up, which is looking for partners to conquer the US market. “We could never have imagined that.”
The company now better understands the needs of companions working in nursing homes. For example, Cutii can distract them while grooming, making it easier for staff.
Today’s robotics specialists are capable of performance: Boston Dynamics’ articulated robots are causing a stir on YouTube with their rhythmic choreography, while Cornell University researchers are working on microscopic robots that can inspect the human body within, moving through tissues and blood vessels.
– Human warmth –
But companion robots have to overcome psychological rather than technological obstacles.
“The more dependent people are or the more difficulties they have, the more they appreciate it”, Bataille points out. “People with Alzheimer’s disease accept the robot very well. Those who are more alert will like it less.”
This large-scale experience has evolved Cutii to better meet needs.
“Everything is possible,” explains the founder of Cutii. “Most importantly, they can communicate with their families, engage in activities that bring them closer to other people.”
In times of masked and distant humans, robots are paradoxically seen as a way to make certain interactions warmer.
“It’s more fun than a tablet,” said Tim Enwall, director of Misty Robotics, a programmable robot that can be a receptionist, attendant or home assistant.
With the pandemic, “the demand from businesses for reliable and contactless tools that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he says.
“But robots are not yet capable of managing hundreds of different things, such as people”he admits. “It can lead to frustration, for example when the device responds with ‘Sorry, I didn’t understand’ to someone with a hearing impairment.”
– Plush robot –
At CES 2020, Japanese companion robot Lovot moved the crowd with his big owl eyes, teddy bear gaze and adorable responses when addressed or petted.
It only serves to convey affection. Such as Paro, a therapeutic robot in the shape of a baby seal, also Japanese, that has been used for over 15 years to care for patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
“When an elderly person has senility, they may have difficulty communicating and no longer be able to care for an animal,” said Barbara Klein, a professor at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. The reassuring robot takes the place of a cat or dog “without obligation”.
Klein also emphasizes that it makes it possible to “care for someone instead of being the one who always receives care”.
But acceptance varies greatly from person to person. Ultra-realistic robots, such as purring cuddly cats, can be uncomfortable.
“Some senile patients can be very disappointed if they overestimate the robot’s capabilities,” says Stefanie Baisch, psychology researcher at the University of Siegen (Germany) and specialist in companion robots.
There are those who are afraid of looking strange in the eyes of others while taking care of them.
Therefore, it is the healthcare provider’s responsibility to ensure that the device remains primarily a “mediator that fosters human interactions,” the researcher concluded.