Japanese Robots for Forgetful Elderly [18+]

WONG: For people who are suffering from dementia or are simply forgetful, Japanese robots could offer a helping hand. Here's more. STORY: The University of Tokyo has developed a series of "reminder robot" prototypes designed to help elderly people by reminding them of where they have put items or what they have done already. One such robot named "Mamoru," which means "to protect" in Japanese, watches every move its owner makes and gives a verbal warning if he or she tries to do the same action twice. For example, when a man enters a room with a box of medicine, Mamoru immediately recognizes it and says, "That's medicine." As the robot watches the man take the medicine, it says, "You're taking medicine." If the man attempts to take the medicine a second time, the robot says, "Don't take it again," and, in this case, when the man asks the robot if he has taken his medicine already, Mamoru says, "You took it 31 seconds ago." Another reminder robot monitors a room with cameras and sensors to keep track of exactly where pre-registered objects in the room have been placed. [Keita Takahashi, University of Tokyo]: "Not just elderly people, but also young people might find this system useful when they cannot find something after somebody else in their family has put it away. So it can be useful for people of all ages." The wheelchair-like machine tells the user where the items are both verbally and visually, and then takes the user to those locations. Both robots are still in the early stages of development, and researchers say it will take at least five years for them to be sold commercially.

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1. By: NTDTV
2. Categories Science & Tech
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4. Added :25-Feb-09
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