Robot carers could help lonely seniors — they're cheering humans up already
Alessandro Di Nuovo, Sheffield Hallam University The film Robot and Frank imagined a near-future where robots could do almost everything humans could. The elderly title character was given a “robot butler” to help him continue living on his own. The robot was capable of everything from cooking and cleaning to socialising (and, it turned out, burglary). This kind of science fiction may turn out to be remarkably prescient. As growing numbers of elderly people require care, researchers believe that robots could be one way to address the overwhelming demand. But while robots might be able to provide care and, in some cases, social interaction, many wonder if they really are the right solution to this uniquely human issue. One recent survey found that while 68% of people agree robots are beneficial because they can help people, only 26% surveyed said they’d be comfortable with a robot providing help and companionship for them if they were in hospital or care. Commenta...