Title:	DESIGN OF ROBOTIC PETS TO HELP THE ELDERLY WITH SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
Author(s):	Hsin-Yi Huang, Wen-Huei Chou, Mieko Ohsuga and Tsuyoshi Inoue
ISBN:	978-989-8704-20-7
Editors:	Katherine Blashki
Year:	2020
Edition:	Single
Keywords:	Social Ties, Elderly People, Robotic Pet, Pet, Interaction Design
Type:	Full
First Page:	3
Last Page:	10
Language:	English
Cover:
Full Contents:	click to dowload
Paper Abstract:	Aging is a global issue. The human body and mind are interlinked during this process. Specifically, an unhealthy mental state has an adverse effect on the body, and loneliness and inadequate social ties affect people's moods. After retirement, elderly people lead a different life. Real pets can help elderly people develop good social relationships, and their characteristics can improve people's social ties. However, elderly may have difficulties to raised real pets as the cause of pets' allergies, uncontrollability behaviors, and elderly's living conditions. Hence, as an alternative solution, many pet robots have been developed as a companion for the elderly and to provide emotional care for them. Even if some of them are used to accompany elderly people or assist them in their social activities, these applications are limited to indoor places and interactions between people and pet robots. Hence, there is a lack of interactions that can strengthen personal activities and promote interpersonal relationships. This study explored how elderly people should interact with robotic pets, and investigated the functional requirements for robotic pets. Through a combination of technological means and pet characteristics, the intent is to help the retired elderly people maintain and strengthen social ties and even develop new social relationships. Using a semi-structured interview approach, this study investigated the daily life of their life after retirement to explore the appropriate time at which interaction design can intervene, and explore the requirements for robotic pets. Furthermore, this study provided follow-up research ideas and design reference.
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