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Pearl, a Robot for the Elderly

Posted by michael on from the my-robot's-fallen-and-it-can't-get-up dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "The world population is rapidly aging -- at least in developed countries. The number of seniors will explode in the next two decades. So researchers everywhere are trying to find new ways to help elderly people to continue to live at home. This is why a team from Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh, University of Michigan and Stanford University has spent the last four years to design Pearl, a robot specifically designed to help old people. Pearl has a humanoid aspect and is 4-feet high. Still, don't rush to the store to buy one for your old folks. It costs more than $100,000 and is not entirely ready for mass production. This overview contains more details and references. It also includes two pictures of the -- quite cute -- Pearl."

11 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting by Scoria · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Still, don't rush to the store to buy one for your old folks. It costs more than $100,000 and is not entirely ready for mass production.

    But I'd hire an assistant for that price. ;-)

    --
    Do you like German cars?
    1. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Right. Hire some teenagers, grampa sitters, to help. Better to have some real humans around. A robot would be a way to torture old folks. Loneliness is real. Idiotic technical fix for a human problem.

    2. Re:Interesting by some+guy+I+know · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Hire some teenagers
      The whole point of building these things is that, eventually, there will be a dearth of teenagers, nurses, and other humans to help the elderly.
      Too, a full-time robot nurse would probably cost less than a human one in the long run, and be able to monitor a disabled senior 24 hours a day, 365(6) days a year.
      (At least three humans would be required to perform the same task (outside of nursing homes).)

      My hope, though, is that medical science will have advanced enough that nanotechnology will fix most or all medical problems, including aging.
      (They'd better hurry up; I have just over 15 yesrs before I become a "senior" myself (although I don't feel a day over 20).)
      --
      Those who sacrifice security to condemn liberty deserve to repeat history or something. - Benjamin Santayana
  2. $100,000 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I have two elderly (86, 90) parents who prefer to life by themselves away in Nevada, while I live in New York.

    Since they can hardly take care of themselves, I hired almost-full time help to take care of them. I pay this person almost $80,000 a year for this.

    A robot to do the same thing for a one time investment of $100,000 seems like a pretty good deal.

    - John.

  3. What kind of logic is this?! by MrIrwin · · Score: 2, Insightful
    What elderly person wants to be looked after by a robot, unless it can help them with Euthenasia.

    Elderly people in developing countries are lacking **human contact**. Perhaps one of the best innovations in this respect in recent years has been to combine old folks homes in community buildings where childrens nurseries and other activities take place.

    --

    And if you thought that was boring you obviously havn't read my Journal ;-)

    1. Re:What kind of logic is this?! by bigberk · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Elderly people in developing countries are lacking **human contact**
      Elderly people in the first world are lacking human contact! People throw their parents into homes and shrug them off until they're dead. In developing countries, families remain more close-knit and it's common to have the elderly parents living together with the family.
    2. Re:What kind of logic is this?! by gears5665 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Actually most elderly people try very hard to avoid other people's children and grandchildren. The noise is terrible, the actions are illogical, they always *need* something. Children are very disturbing to a peaceful life.

  4. Medical Care by Dan+East · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So how is this thing supposed to determine if Granny is is a diabetic coma verses taking a sound nap?

    Dan East

    --
    Better known as 318230.
  5. The cost by fermion · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I wonder if 100K for such a machine is so outlandish. There is a significant segment of the population, at least in the US, that have 70K cars. And they apparantly can afford to put in $40 dollars of gas every week. If a robot could be leased for 20k a year, there might be enough customers to support a small production.

    This is quite competative with humans, which seem to cost 25K for unskilled helpers to 60K for a nurse. If nothing else, the robots would be useful if full time help were unaffordable.

    --
    "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    1. Re:The cost by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      In addition to the costs you name, assisted living facilities are very expensive. The robot would probably pay for itself in a few years.

  6. Re:Unneeded solution to an avoidable problem by Pvt_Waldo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What a naive and hugely prejudicial view of the elderly. I am suprised it got mod'ed up. Seriously.