Bandit says "Stick 'em up"
From: Servo Magazine - 01/2013 - page 28

The USC Robotics Research Lab recently posted a journal paper online, titled
"Using Socially Assistive Human-Robot Interaction to Motivate Physical
Exercise for Older Adults". Were not sure what visions that title may conjure
up, but here's what authors Juan Fasola and Maja j. Mataric' are talking
about: 

"This paper focuses on the design methodology, implementation details, and
user study evaluations of an SAR system that aims to motivate and engage
elderly users in physical exercise, as well as social interaction to help
address the physical and cognitive healthcare needs of the growing elderly
population. SAR systems equipped with such motivational, social, and
therapeutic capabilities have the potential to facilitate elderly individuals
to live independently in their own homes, to enhance their quality of life,
and to improve their overall health."  

The robot - named Bandit - is a biomimetic anthropomorphic robot which (in
this case) means a vaguely humanoid torso mounted on a wheeled platform.The
robot attempts to engage the elderly person in a variety of games - some of
which involve making arm gestures and asking the human to imitate them.The
robot observes and offers advice as they attempt to repeat the exercise. 

Studies of interactions with elderly volunteers seem to support the idea that
the robot can succeed at motivating exercise in a way humans find enjoyable.
You can learn more about the project on the UCS Interaction Lab Robot
Exercise System webpage.  

Source:
http://servo.texterity.com/servo/201301/?pg=28#pg28
http://servo.texterity.com/servo/201301/?pg=28&pm=2&u1=friend
http://servo.texterity.com/servo/201301?pg=28&search_term=usc robotics research lab#pg28

Links:
Using Socially Assistive Human-Robot Interaction to Motivate Physical
  Exercise for Older Adults
http://cres.usc.edu/pubdb_html/files_upload/763.pdf

USC Robotics Research Lab
http://robotics.usc.edu/

Interaction Lab Research Projects
http://robotics.usc.edu/interaction/?l=Research:Projects

Robot Motivator: Towards Adaptive Health Games for Productive Long-Term Interaction 
http://robotics.usc.edu/interaction/?l=Research:Projects:robot_motivator:index