Easing the loneliness burden: An insight into elderly attitudes and preferences towards practical and social robots, based on in-depth interviews.
Keywords
Loading...
Authors
Issue Date
2023-06-26
Language
en
Document type
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Title
ISSN
Volume
Issue
Startpage
Endpage
DOI
Abstract
Practical and social robots are being used in an increasing number of industries and contexts. There are various age-related obstacles and opportunities for integrating technology into the life of older people. Through six in-depth interviews, this study aimed to better understand the preferences and attitudes of elderly people towards practical and social robots. The purpose of the study was to discover how older people felt about robots in terms of perceived benefits, drawbacks, worries, and desired features. A diverse group of older persons aged 70 and up were recruited using a snowball sampling technique. A Bricolage analysis was done to discover themes and patterns in the collected material. Participants expressed a need for help with chores, such as obtaining relevant information from practical robots. User-friendly interfaces and customization choices were seen as crucial for enhancing user acceptance. According to the study's findings, older individuals perceived the potential of robots in reducing loneliness and increasing social relations. They did not express a great desire for robots capable of deep, emotionally supporting conversations and facilitating social interactions. They did, however, see this as a potential future possibility or for people they knew who were lonely or suffering from dementia. Concerns about privacy and the risk of the robot breaking down were cited as major considerations in acceptance. The usefulness and acceptance of elderly users can be increased by employing clear and succinct communication, intuitive interfaces, and adaptation to individual needs. The study's findings will aid academics in better understanding elderly's preferences and attitudes towards practical and social robots. The insights can be utilised to develop more user-centered and efficient ageing robot solutions. Robot technology can be utilised to improve the well-being and quality of life of the ageing population by addressing recognised needs and concerns.
Key words: Social and practical robots, perceptions, attitudes, loneliness, elderly
Description
Citation
Supervisor
Faculty
Faculteit der Letteren