Elderly people dealing with social isolation and loneliness are at increased risk of a variety of ailments, from cardiovascular disease and elevated blood pressure to cognitive deterioration and infection. In short, being old and alone can kill you. But robots aren't just good for improving the elderly's movement, they're surprisingly adept at keeping retirees socially, emotionally and mentally engaged as well.
The annual birth rate dropped below a million for the first time since 1899 and a quarter of the population is already greying in 2016 in Japan, that’s why the care robots for the elderly are springing up. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry expects the robotic service industry to boom to nearly $4 billion annually by 2035 -- 25 times its current level. Europe and the US are also accelerating the development and adoption of support robots.
Serving robots do exactly that. Take the Care-o-bot from Fraunhofer IPA, for example. This robot has been deployed in a number of German assisted living facilities. It is able to keep the elderly entertained by playing memory games to help keep their minds sharp. The Care-o-bot is programmed to behave like a gentleman, Dr Ulrich Reiser, Project and Group Leader at Fraunhofer IPA, wrote in a 2015 release.
QIHAN Technology’s Sanbot Elf intelligent robot, which was firstly launched at IFA Expo in last September, can overtake the responsibilities of intimate companion. As one APP controlled robot, you can have a remote caring video call with your parents or kids through the mobile APP. Make an appointment online in advance if you are bored about waiting in a hospital. The intelligent health care robot is equal to special elderly care, patient education and simple diagnosis, etc. QIHAN Technology practices the “Robot + Various Industries” strategy based on Sanbot Elf robot.
In addition, QIHAN will launch another intelligent service robot - Sanbot Nano in a couple days at this year’s IFA Expo. Different from the Sanbot Elf for commercial use especially, Sanbot Nano is designed, especially, for home use. It is the first home robot, adopting the Amazon Alexa AI system, and it gives you an outstanding voice interaction. The three-panel design of Application Integration Panel, Game Panel, and Address Book Panel on the Sanbot Nano touch screen reduces the operational difficulties and brings an incredible interactive experience for users.
These kinds of robotics in healthcare don't even need to be people-sized. Of course, growing old in a nursing home is a vastly different experience than doing so in your own home. Care facilities are, by their very nature, communal -- there's nearly always someone around. But for elderly folks who live alone, the services that robots provide must go beyond turning off lights and fetching small items.
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