Meet Kuri: Aging Populations and Home Robots

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Technology is advancing at an incredible pace, and among these advances is the development of home robots. It is not uncommon for someone to own a Roomba or smart home system such as Amazon Alexa these days. These home robots have a practical purpose when we consider the aging population. Those who are unable to clean, need special assistance with navigating technology, or even need help turning lights on and off can benefit from such devices.

 Mayfield Robotics has developed a home robot named Kuri, who acts as a helper around the house, but also as an entertainment / companion robot. In addition to helping with utility tasks, the emotional aspect of the robot is also important, because it provides a social and emotional connection as described in the video. The more that this kind of interactive technology advances, the better it will be able to serve families and seniors in their daily lives.  
There are always drawbacks, however, in implementing future technology, such as acceptance by seniors. There must be a way to comfortably integrate these tools into their lifestyle, whether for utility purposes or entertainment factors (or both). It is important before implementing any new technology to make the choice together with your loved one in order to keep them comfortable, and to ensure they interact with/use the device. 

Another drawback is the cost of many of these home robots, the prices are usually higher as the robots are initially introduced onto the market. As one article by the Institute of Aging states, "Essentially, the reason you'd invest in a robot is to supplement your care and provide your loved one with healthcare and emergency assistance when you can't be available." This is the most important thing to take into consideration when investing in a home robot.

 While Kuri is far from perfect, we can see similar aspects in current technology such as our smart phones and personal home systems like Amazon's Alexa. In a few years, we could see more human-like robots on the market which can aid in the social lives of aging seniors, as well as their daily tasks.

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