When an Interface Becomes the Face
From: University of Vienna - 12/05/2016
By: Glenda Hannibal

Several countries, such as Japan, Germany, the US, Denmark, and the
Netherlands, have already introduced into elder care the robotic seal-pup
PARO whose purpose is to engage nursing home residents in interactions that
contribute to their mental health and keep them company.

These kind of robots are now also developed and tested in other social
practices such as education and therapy. In all these instances the main idea
remains the same: these robots are no longer seen as mere instruments, but
rather as crucial interaction partners for those people in our society who
might be in need of some special help or care. But the ultimate goal in
social robotics is a possibility of building more advanced robots that could
eventually become true companions, and not only in the context of therapy or
elder care.

Read the entire article at:
http://blog.univie.ac.at/en/when-an-interface-becomes-the-face