Slashdot Mirror
Pearl, a Robot for the Elderly
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."
Valerie, the domestic android is a better deal.
http://www.androidworld.com/prod19.htm
It will be capable of washing dishes etc, and will cost only $59000.
Most conversations on this topic revolve "taking care of" the elderly, sort of like they are children. I think that the first adopters will rather be perfectly competent seniors with physical challenges, not mental ones. My father is more likely going to buy the thing for himself than me buying it for him.
My other sig is in jail.
To err is human. To arr is pirate.
A bit overly generalised perhaps, but I think it's not too unrealistic. I know anecdotal evidence dosn't prove anything, but my own family has still influenced my opinion on the matter. One of my grandparents is 86 now, has always eaten well and in moderation and has kept active her whole life. Her younger sister on the other hand, had tv and books as her main hobby, never cared about what she ate and didn't get any additional excercise. My grandmother still jogs, plays tennis, and is generally vigerous. Her sister, even though younger, can barley even get around on her own anymore.
Everything will be taken away from you.