Care robots in Japanese elderly care

摘要

This chapter focuses on the cultural values embedded in the limited use of care robots. It describes a theoretical framework for understanding care workers' responses to technology in care by contrasting cold technology with warm care. The chapter discusses why technology is not widely used in Japanese care work, although in other industries most physically heavy tasks have been mechanized. It utilizes an analysis of preconceptions about and use of transfer lifts as an example of the absence of technology in care work. The chapter presents the findings from the focus groups on attitudes to technology in care work of care workers with and without relevant experience, and from the surveys of Japanese public attitudes to care robots. It also discusses these findings in relation to elderly Japanese people's behaviours and feelings towards professional care workers, and how these may affect the introduction and experience of technology in care work.