Abstract:
Socially assistive robots (SARs) have shown significant promise in enhancing interventions that support the physical and mental well-being of older adults. However, previous research has not extensively explored the potential of SARs to reduce barriers in long-term low vision rehabilitation (LVR) for older adults. This study introduces a user-informed design process to validate the motivation and identify key design principles for developing SARs for long-term LVR.
To evaluate user-perceived usefulness and acceptance of SARs in this novel domain, the researchers conducted a two-phase study through user surveys. Initially, a group of older adults with low vision (n = 38) completed a mailed-in survey. Subsequently, a new group of older adults with low vision (n = 13) participated in an in-clinic SAR demonstration before completing the survey.
The study participants reported that SARs would be useful, trustworthy, easy to use, and enjoyable, while also providing socio-emotional support to augment LVR interventions. Notably, the in-clinic demo group expressed significantly more positive opinions about the SAR’s capabilities compared to the baseline survey group, which only used mailed-in forms without the SAR demonstration.
These findings suggest that SARs have the potential to play a valuable role in long-term LVR for older adults, offering both practical assistance and emotional support.
Reference:
Zhou, E., Shi, Z., Qiao, X., Matarić, M.J., Bittner, A.K. (2021). Designing a Socially Assistive Robot to Support Older Adults with Low Vision. In: Li, H., et al. Social Robotics. ICSR 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 13086. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90525-5_38