Thursday, October 15, 2015

Fluffy robot seals comfort dementia patients in nursing homes - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Fluffy robot seals comfort dementia patients in nursing homes - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): Queensland researchers have been granted more than $1 million to begin the world's biggest study into the effects of animal-like robots on dementia patients.

The PARO robot, a 2.7kg soft, fluffy baby harp seal, has showed promising results - calming agitated and distressed patients during a small pilot study last year.

Each seal can learn its own name, has unique facial features and can show emotions such as surprise, happiness and anger.

Professor Wendy Moyle from Griffith University says with the number of dementia patients expected to double in the next 20 years, finding new treatments is critical.

June Roberts with 'paro seal'

Posted
Robot companion: Dementia patient June Roberts with a PARO seal at a Pinjarra Hills nursing home in Brisbane.