Using Narrative with Avatars and Robots to Enhance Elder Care

摘要

Elderly care is of increasing global concern. The aging population is expected to increase two-fold by 2050. It is anticipated that there will not be enough caregivers to assist the elderly very soon, and thus, researchers are looking at various technologies and potential applications that will help alleviate the problem of elderly care. This chapter examines one such assistive technology: conversational agents in the form of avatars or robots as an aid to decrease loneliness and depression among the elderly and increase the cognitive function and quality of life. The authors discuss the state-of-the-science of research prototypes and commercial off-the-shelf systems. They propose a novel concept and design, and the authors discuss the ethical ramifications of senior citizens possibly bonding with inanimate objects as if they were human companions.