The Intelligent Systems Research Institute (ISRI) of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), an independent administrative institution, has developed a new version (8th generation) of seal-mimetic mental-committed robot PARO
The ISRI-AIST has proposed the robot therapy since earlier, and has been dedicated to R&D of seal-mimetic mental-committed robot "PARO" from 1993. Each machine of PARO has different looks owing to hand-made process, and even holds individuality acquired through learning process to recognize its own name and behavior pattern favored by its owner.
A series of verifying experiments for robot therapy have been executed with PARO at a health service facility for aged people, "Toyoura", Tsukuba, Ibaraki from August 2003 to September 2004 (Fig. 2), demonstrating its psychological effects, such as remedy of depressive state, cheering up and motivation; physiological effects, such as remission of stress as proved by urine test; and social effects such as increased interaction among the aged and with care personnel. Moreover, PARO has proved to be effective for reducing care-laden stress of helpers. Throughout this series of experiments PARO has been happily treated with adequate affection for over a year without causing failure nor trouble.
In addition to medical and welfare facilities in Japan, the robot therapy with PARO has been tried at the
Karolinska Institute and the National Institute for Handicapped Persons, Sweden; the Siena University Hospital, Italy; the Kerpape Hospital, France; and the Stanford University Hospital, USA, achieving very good results.
WANT!
ih8fascists 2 years ago 3