Robotic Assistance for the Elderly
From: Europe's Newsroom - 07/05/2012

A group of European Union-funded researchers has developed a robotic
companion and intelligent home environment that could help elderly people
live more independent lives. "Without support, assistance, and cognitive
stimulation, sufferers from elderly dementia and depression can deteriorate
rapidly; in these circumstances their care[takers] ... face a more demanding
task; the elderly and their care[takers] both face an increased risk of
social exclusion," says University of Reading professor Atta Badii. The
researchers created Hector, a robotic companion, as part of the Integrated
Cognitive Assistive and Domotic Companion Robotic Systems for Ability &
Security (CompanionAble) project. Hector can help users socialize and provide
cognitive stimulation in their daily lives. The robot also can control smart
systems around the house, opening and closing windows, turning on and off
lights, and regulating central heating. "We can extend Hector's capabilities
in a modular fashion, making him a plug-and-perform companion robot; he can
be effective in a large variety of home settings to support assisted
independent living," Badii says. The CompanionAble project has already placed
systems in several demonstration homes, which are used to test and improve
the functionalities developed by the project's partners through long-term
studies. 

Read the entire article at:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/dae/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8267

Links:
Atta Badii
http://www.isr.rdg.ac.uk/members/atta.html

Integrated Cognitive Assistive and Domotic Companion Robotic Systems for Ability & Security
http://www.companionable.net/
http://www.isr.reading.ac.uk/companionable.html

CompanionAble project factsheet
http://cordis.europa.eu/projects/rcn/85553_en.html