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Robotic Bubble Baths for Japan's Elderly

Posted by michael on from the that's-what-a-robot's-for! dept.

LukePieStalker writes "New York Times (open kimono before entering) is carrying an article on various robots that are being used in assisted living situations. In addition to mentioning the Wakamaru, the story has illustrations of a human washing machine and a description of robotic pants that help those with mobility problems. Apparently, the devices are considered the better choice in a country that is not inclined to grant working visas to foreigners. As Japan's population shrinks, will the robot population make up the difference?"

6 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. To the home with you! by erik+umenhofer · · Score: 5, Funny

    No not only do we send our folks to the home, but now they won't ever see a human again! Hope you like robots! Take that mom and dad!

  2. Revolt! by Bishop,+Martin · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is bad! The elderly hold all of our history, if they give that information to the robots, we will all be doomed!

    DOOMED!

    --
    Setec Astronomy
  3. hmm by tsunamifirestorm · · Score: 5, Funny

    As Japan's population shrinks
    Is this a literal reference towards the elderly? ;)

  4. Loneliness by dtio · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Loneliness is the 1st problem for the senior citizens here in Europe. We don't need robots to assist them we need human beings to keep them company. I thinkt hat being surrounded by machines is even more depressing than being all alone, I'd feel totally worthless if I was given to a robot to take care of me.

    We need to humanize the problem of the increasing elder population and stop talking about 'technical' solutions.

    Loneliness can kill.

    1. Re:Loneliness by vidarh · · Score: 5, Insightful
      If it's being used to get rid of people to care for elderly people, then perhaps it would be bad. But if it is used to reduce the time elderly people have to rely on what for many is relatively humiliating assistance and instead give the people caring for them time to spend time with them it would be an improvement.

      Technical solutions ARE relevant. I doubt needing to get help from someone to wash myself would be my preferred form of social contact if I was old.

      But it is a tool - not a solution in itself

    2. Re:Loneliness by nathanh · · Score: 5, Interesting
      Loneliness is the 1st problem for the senior citizens here in Europe. We don't need robots to assist them we need human beings to keep them company. I thinkt hat being surrounded by machines is even more depressing than being all alone, I'd feel totally worthless if I was given to a robot to take care of me.

      These aren't robots to keep them company. They're robots to keep them clean and robots to help them with everyday tasks. Get a grip on the situation and get off your soapbox.

      I suppose in your world we shouldn't allow old people to drive cars because then they'd be lonely. Instead, we should have 6 fit young men carrying each old person around on a litter.

      Instead of impersonal cooking machines, like microwaves, we can just hire teams of people to breathe heavily on the food until it's cooked. Heavens forbid that old people use a "technical solution" to cook their food.

      I wonder what you might say if I explained to you the concept of a phone; a "technical solution" that allows for *greater* human interaction. Probably your head would explode as you tried to reconcile the paradox.

      Stop being such a drongo. Robots to keep the elderly clean is a great thing. It means they'll receive better care, at an affordable price, and they can clean themselves when they want to rather than when the overworked nurse is available. A nurse, by the way, who could actually improve the quality of their patients lives if they weren't wasting their valuable time giving sponge baths.