How much interaction with a robot is socially acceptable?
We have a tall order when it comes to dreaming up a trustworthy care robot. A robot could clean the house, find and fetch objects, and even keep seniors company. But if we were to have robots that can do so
Results: Readers optimistic about role of robots as care assistants for seniors
Developing robots that are capable of taking care of seniors is the goal of an increasing number of robotics companies. While there are many economic and social factors to encourage this trend, the ethical issues pertaining to the use of robots as caregivers requires careful consideration. Data from our latest poll suggest that readers are optimistic about the role of robots as care assistants for senior members of their families.
Would you trust a robot to take care of your grandma?
One of the driving forces of social, interactive robotics is the impending issue of labour shortage, which is projected as one of the major and inevitable consequence of the population ageing phenomenon. As previously discussed by Colin Lewis on the Robohub article, The world and
Smart homes: ‘My home, my comfort’, says readers
In our previous polls, Robohub and ORi focused our poll discussions on robots that will enter our domestic environment. But what about the environment that surrounds us that is increasingly becoming robotic? In our latest poll, we chose to look at
The Two Factors in Bath by Robots: Privacy and Control
Robots that bathe you can bring about some interesting and controversial issues. Within the last decade, a number of different bathing robots have come into existence in the form of different prototypes and products, and research projects. Whether you'll accept the robot
What can a smart home (and robot) do for you?
More people are now wearing smart watches, carrying smart phones, and now living in smart homes. The devices that we interact with in our everyday lives are just getting 'smarter'. Homes equipped with smart and automated devices such as thermostats
How much control should a bathing robot have?
A few years ago, researchers at the University of British Columbia (AJung Moon, Peter Danielson and Mike Van der Loos) studied the public acceptance of a number of different robots. That included the discussion of a Japanese robot from Sanyo Electric in
Home robots: more of an appliance than companion, says readers
Primary reasons for considering to purchase a robot for the home Why would you want to buy a robot for your home? When we asked our readers this question, the majority (75%) said that they'd want a robot "to help me with house