The NAO models for the elderly

Abstract

This paper highlights initial observations from a user study performed in an assisted living facility in Spain. We introduced the NAO robot to assist in geriatric physiotherapy rehabilitation. The NAO is introduced in order to take over one of the usual roles of the physiotherapist: modeling movements for the inpatients. We also introduced a virtual version of the NAO in order to see whether this role of modeling is equally effective in a screen-based modality. Preliminary results show the inpatients adjust their movements to the NAO, although they react differently to the virtual and the physical robot.