Just to disprove the common theory that almost everything to come out of Japan these days is frivolous and a little ditsy, scientists from the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, the University of Tokyo and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology have unveiled designs for a robot for people with dementia. The robot is designed to help dementia sufferers by giving them verbal reminders about things like appointments and taking their medicines. Weighing 11lbs (5kgs) and standing 16 inches (40cms) tall, the cylindrical-shaped robot can recognize its master’s face and voice. It also includes a conversation program that will speak according to schedule, but with a human turn of phrase, offering suggestions and advice like a kindly nurse or family member. If you suffer from dementia, are you not likely to forget you have the robot and get the fright of your life every time a strange, disembodied voice speaks to you? You can imagine the number of court cases that would ensue if this were to ever hit the USA.

The robot was trialed on five women in a nursing home over a five-day period. It is due to be released within the next five years.
[Yomiuri]