As technology advances,robots are having an increaing role in elderly care, providing comfort in much the same way as cats or dogs.
Reseach by the Auckland Medical School found that a therapeutic robot called Paro helped loneliness and blood pressure among the elderly.
For full video and article, please click here.
Featured on the Lincoln University Tech Bytes March 6 2014, A new government grant is up for grabs to encourage robotic researches to strenghen ties between New Zealand and Japan. The aim is for the two countries to create more smart projects like - the healthbot that helps care for the elderly. The iRobis are the product of Auckland University's services commercialisation arm, a sure applicant of the grant.
Scientists working on the healthbot say the don't think robots will take over from humans in caring for the elderly but the technology could reduce the time people need to do certain tasks. The robots could remind elderly people to take their medication, check blood pressure and heart rate or play games to boost memory.
To watch the video and read the full article on TV3 News, please click here.
It seems a smile goes a long way - especially if you are a robot.
People have storng preference for robots with human-like features on their display screen, according to an Auckland University study.
Study leader Dr Elizabeth Broadbent from the university's Department of Psychological Medicine said that although it was not entirely logical, people tended to think robots were better at their work if they looked more like humans.
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Most robots are so much more than a pretty face, but most humans don't see them that way. We make snap decisions about a robot's personality, friendliness and abilities - all from the way it looks, even if it's just a projection on a display screen, new research shows.
A new study, published in the August 28 issue of PLOS ONE, adds to growing evidence that as robots become assistants and collaborators in all aspects of our lives, their apperance can deeply influence how well machines and humans interact.
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"Sneezy will take a bit of getting used to, but I'm getting on a bit now, and he can remind me to take my insulin."
"Gore resident, John Redmond, is looking forward to taking part in a world first, as one of the first people to have a health robot as a companion carer in his home."
For the full article, please click here.
"Robotic software developed at the University of Auckland to enhance patient care and the lives of older people will soon be deployed in the Gore community.
Three small "healthbots" that will aid older people in their homes, were trialled at teh Selwyn Retirement Village last year and are due to take up their duties in mid-March."
For the full article, please click here.
Prime Minister John Key got down to business during his final day in South Korea, talking up New Zealand and his hopes for a free trade deal.
But he was upstaged by a robot – iRobi, a robot specially designed to help autistic children and old people.
For the full article and video clip, please click here
The Healthbots were demonstrated to the Prime Minister at an event on the 29th July 2013 in Seoul, during his visit to Korea. For the full video clip please click here
"Paro is a robot that costs around $5000 adn looks like a toy version of a baby harp seal. It is sensitive to sound, touch and light and teh position in which it is being held, and in response to such stimuli it bats its eyelids, flaps its flippers, lifts its head, quivers, wriggles, yelps and purrs.
The Paro robot was designed in Japan to provide comfort for those with dementia and there is good evidence that it works - that it can relieve boredom, reduce stress, cheer people up and provide solace for those in distress. "
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"GORE Health is only four weeks into trialling health robots but already the entity is investigating bringing more ¿¿healthbots¿¿ on stream."
"Gore Hospital business manager Rhonda Reid said the decision to buy more healthbots would depend on the results of the trial involving four healthbots, but early indications were that they were proving effective."
"Gore Health is the first provider in New Zealand to trial the robotic software, developed at the University of Auckland. The healthbots aimed to enhance patient care and the lives of older people."
To read the full article on The Ensign, please click here.
"When you are older and alone, who is going to remind you to take your pills, go to doctors and do all those things when they can be easily forgotten? The answer at Gore is: Robots!"
Campbell Live featured the iRobiQ robots being deployed at Gore residents' homes on the 10th April 2013 show.
For the full video, please click here.
"In a first such project for e-Health, New Zealand's Gore Health Hospital is rolling out robotics tehcnology to streamline healthcare for home-bound patients and the elderly across remote areas."
"Gore Hospital's Chief Executive Karl Metzler told FutureGov tha tone in five New Zealander lives in a rural or remote area. We are exploring robotics technology to maange healthcare, and reduce pressures on our medical system."
For full article on FutureGov Asia Pacific, please click here.
"Gore will this week become the first place in New Zealand to employ Disney-like robots to help humans with their health."
"The ground-breaking development is thought to be the first step toward a robot future, where machines will assist us in all facets of life."
For full article on New Zealand Herald, please click here.
Healthbots made a public presence with Danny Watson on NewstalkZB's "Tech Tuesday, Jan 22nd 2013".
The talkshow features Karl Metzler, CEO of Gore Health Ltd, talking about the real life deployment of healthcare robots in Gore Hospital. To listen to the programme, Please click here
TVNZ One News features the article "Robots may help improve dementia care" on Monday, November 12 2012.
A video link is also available with the title "Robots may help improve dementia care".
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Robots may help improve dementia care
"Robots could be a key tool in the fight against dementia, researchers from a New Zealand university say." For full article, please Click Here
Robots benefi dementia patients
"Auckland University students are studying the use of robots in healthcare and finding some interesting results." For the video, please Click Here