Creative and Cognitive Activities in Social Assistive Robots and Older Adults: Results from an Exploratory Field Study with Pepper

Abstract

Medical progress and demographic changes will increase the future need of support and care in older adults. The use of robotic-based technologies may support older adults and relief the health system and caregivers. The authors provide results from two design case studies of applications that are designed for and with older adults and their caregivers to support both, their physical and cognitive activity. The authors conducted a pre-study, designed two applications, which were displayed and performed by the humanoid robot Pepper and evaluated them together with the participants in care-settings. The goal was to assess user experience and to explore effects of system usage on physical and socio-emotional conditions of older adults and their caregivers. Results indicate that the system seems to be able to initiate joyful interaction and that the Robot motivated and empowered participants to mimic movements that are embodied by the robot and displayed by the applications.