Mobiserv Robot Designed To Keep Tabs On Seniors

Zothecula writes "Of the various potential uses for robots, there's one that many people often forget about – in-home helpers for the elderly. A number of such robots are currently in the works, including the Twendy-One and GiraffPlus. Now, a consortium of European research institutes and companies has created another such electronic assistant, as one component of the larger Mobiserv Project."

Comments

often forget about – in-home helpers for the

[ls671]

"often forget about – in-home helpers for the elderly"

Not me. With people living longer and longer and less and less young people to take care of them, the elderly will be a big market for robots for years to come yet. I had a discussion with a friend of mine about that the other day.

I don't even know why the scientists make them

[Dogtanian]

Robots to look after old people? Are they mad?! Everyone knows they steal old people's medicine to keep themselves going, and then there's the problem of them attacking them with their metal claws.

Someone needs to offer seniors insurance against that sort of thing.

Re: I don't even know why the scientists make them

[operagost]

The robots are there to protect the seniors from the other robots... duh. For example, if Pusher robots are a problem in your area, Old Glory insurance will offer you a discount if you purchase a Shover robot to protect you from the terrible secret of space. You might also want to move to a home without stairs.

Robot and Frank

[psychonaut]

Unfortunately the article doesn't indicate whether these robots can help elderly jewel thieves carry out big heists. Inquiring minds want to know!

Re:I can't see it working

[Immerman]

I think you're not fully considering the target audience's situation

Mom-in-Law is reaching the point that she can't live on her own any more. The choices are:
Send her to a retirement home
Let her move in with you
Hire a caretaker
Purchase a robot caretaker

Take a moment to think about the costs of each of those options, financial and otherwise. Suddenly the robot starts looking a lot more attractive.

Re:stop targeting the elderly.

[Immerman]

Don't think they're not doing so. I just read about some fast-food chain experimenting with robotic burger-making and delivery. Production times can be lowered dramatically, consistency increases, and the robot never ever (well, hardly ever) spits in your burger.

But think this through - once they automate the bulk of the service industry what will they need you for? You'll be out of two jobs, and still need to eat and pay rent. The problem is not a technological one, it's a social one. In a world where most non-creative labor is being rapidly replaced with robots we need to think long and hard about what we'll do with the surplus of workers. We have over a century of labor-saving devices integrated into our day to day lives, and in the US at least not many people have actually saved any labor, instead they work just as hard and get a lot more done. That's great and all, but there's only so much that actually needs to get done, and creating busywork for a large segment of the population is both wasteful and a horrible drain on national morale.