Robotic caretaker

Information

Author: Van der Plas, A.P.
Contributor: Wehrmann, C., Buijs, J.A., Smits, M.
Faculty: Industrial Design Engineering
Department: PIM
Programme: Strategic Product Design
Type: Master thesis
Date: 19-3-2010
Keywords: Visions | Assessment | Robots | Participative | Dialogue | Caretaker | Elderly | Long-term care

View on TU Delft Repository

Abstract

The development of robots for long-term care is driven by a fascination for the technological possibilities rather than an eye for the needs and desires in its designated context. Although robots are seen as the ultimate solution to the continuously ageing population and the decreasing availability of caretakers, robot experts are not familiar with the daily needs of caretakers and patients. Early involvement of relevant stakeholders through participative vision assessment can steer robot technology towards a desirable future.

Participative vision assessment aims to make a new technology more beneficial for society by bridging the gap between the visions and underlying assumptions of its creators and its designated users. The three-phased process ultimately leads to an dialogue in which existing visions are exchanged an new visions on the desirable future of robots in long-term care are constructed.

New visions arose most prominently on the level of concrete applications. For example, a robotic hospital bed that only has to be steered by one nurse was designed by a team of robot experts and caretakers. This robo-bed could save 50% workforce while on the same time allowing the nurse to fully focus on the mental and physical state of the patient.

Although the robot applications that were designed during the dialogue workshop might not seem to be futuristic, the new visions on the desirable future of robots that are inscribed in them are significant. Rather than aiming for super-intelligent autonomous humanoids, the robot experts should focus on developing modest robotic tools to solve the urgent needs in long-term care.