Development Issues of Healthcare Robots: Compassionate Communication for Older Adults with Dementia

Tetsuya Tanioka, Tomoya Yokotani, Ryuichi Tanioka, Feni Betriana, Kazuyuki Matsumoto, Rozzano Locsin, Yueren Zhao, Kyoko Osaka, Misao Miyagawa and Savina Schoenhofer
Additional contact information
Tetsuya Tanioka: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8509, Japan
Tomoya Yokotani: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8509, Japan
Ryuichi Tanioka: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8509, Japan
Feni Betriana: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8509, Japan
Kazuyuki Matsumoto: Graduate School of Engineering, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8506, Japan
Rozzano Locsin: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8509, Japan
Yueren Zhao: Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
Kyoko Osaka: Department of Nursing, Nursing Course of Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
Misao Miyagawa: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan
Savina Schoenhofer: Anne Boykin Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: Although progress is being made in affective computing, issues remain in enabling the effective expression of compassionate communication by healthcare robots. Identifying, describing and reconciling these concerns are important in order to provide quality contemporary healthcare for older adults with dementia. The purpose of this case study was to explore the development issues of healthcare robots in expressing compassionate communication for older adults with dementia. An exploratory descriptive case study was conducted with the Pepper robot and older adults with dementia using high-tech digital cameras to document significant communication proceedings that occurred during the activities. Data were collected in December 2020. The application program for an intentional conversation using Pepper was jointly developed by Tanioka’s team and the Xing Company, allowing Pepper’s words and head movements to be remotely controlled. The analysis of the results revealed four development issues, namely, (1) accurate sensing behavior for “listening” to voices appropriately and accurately interacting with subjects; (2) inefficiency in “listening” and “gaze” activities; (3) fidelity of behavioral responses; and (4) deficiency in natural language processing AI development, i.e., the ability to respond actively to situations that were not pre-programmed by the developer. Conversational engagements between the Pepper robot and patients with dementia illustrated a practical usage of technologies with artificial intelligence and natural language processing. The development issues found in this study require reconciliation in order to enhance the potential for healthcare robot engagement in compassionate communication in the care of older adults with dementia.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; geriatric care; healthcare robots; intelligent humanoid robots; natural language processing; older persons; robot compassion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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