Robots for Old People: They Wash, Shave and Take You on a Date

Modern medicine has been able to significantly increase life expectancy. In Japan, for example, women live an average of 85 years. But at the same time, doctors have not been able to cope with many chronic diseases - diabetes, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, parkinsonism - that make old people helpless. Many of the elderly are not able to take care of themselves - take a bath, shave, cook food. For others, the functioning of the nervous system is disrupted: memory, speech and motor functions.

As a rule, such elderly people have to hire a nurse or send them to nursing homes. However, American and Japanese researchers seem to have found another way out - robots will help decorate the lives of the elderly.

Some electronic caregivers are designed to help seriously ill patients take a bath, open the refrigerator, brush their teeth or eat lunch. And other robots remind you to take medicine, go on a visit, or watch an interesting TV program.

Washing machine for pensioners

This development from Sanyo is already used in Japanese nursing homes. The machine, created by engineer Mitsuru Haruyama, who suffers from dystrophy, has various programs - from hydromassage to drying. The old people are happy with the new device: many of them were embarrassed by the fact that they were unable to take a bath on their own. Now they just need to press a few buttons and “enjoy soap bubbles” without asking a nurse or their relatives for help.

The Sanyo device is called HIRB and costs about 50 thousand dollars. Despite the high price, the company managed to sell more than 100 washing machines immediately after the new product entered the market. The cost of the car is approximately equal to the salary that Filipino caregivers receive in Japan, and much less than the money that native Japanese would have to pay.

In other countries, a Japanese car may be considered unprofitable, but in the Land of the Rising Sun it fully justifies itself. Over the past year, only 10 residence permits and about 50 thousand work visas were issued there. Therefore, cheap labor is almost unavailable in Japan. At the same time, the number of old people is constantly growing. Today, only 19 percent of Japanese are over 65, but that will rise to 36 percent in 2050, and many will need caregivers. In this regard, the creation of robot nannies looks like a good solution to the problem of Japanese old people.

Currently, the market for such devices is estimated at $4 billion; by 2010 it will almost quadruple, and by 2025 it will reach $40 billion. In addition to the washing machine for pensioners, other robots are also being successfully sold.

For example, a talking device equipped with video cameras and mobile communications. It allows the Japanese to watch their elderly relatives while at work. Another device is a battery-powered motorized “pants” that allows people with bad legs to walk. This apparatus acts as an “exoskeleton”.

I think you forgot to take your vitamins

Another interesting development is the American robot Pearl. It was created by scientists from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. The robot reaches one and a half meters in height, on its “head” there are “eyes” buttons, and instead of a mouth there is a panel of light indicators.

On the robot's chest is a bright pressure-sensitive monitor, and below is a basket for things. Pearl reminds seniors when to take their medications, go to an appointment, or watch an interesting TV program. The robot will guide the owner to the bathroom, kitchen, and help open the refrigerator.

The device is equipped with sound, ultrasonic and video sensors that monitor the old man and send a signal via mobile phone when he falls or feels unwell.