Grandma's Little Robot
From: Scientific American - 05/22/2017
By: Catherine Caruso

Machines that can read and react to social cues may be more acceptable
companions and caretakers

In late 2016 IBM and Rice University unveiled the Multi-Purpose Eldercare
Robot Assistant (MERA), a customized version of the Pepper robot developed by
SoftBank Robotics in Japan. Pepper, an ivory-colored android about the height
of a seven-year-old, can detect and respond to human emotions via vocal cues
and facial expressions. It has already been deployed as a friendly assistant
in Japanese stores and homes. MERA, specifically designed as an at-home
companion for the elderly, records and analyzes videos of a person's face and
calculates vital signs such as heart and breathing rates.

Read the entire article at:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/grandma-rsquo-s-little-robot

Links:
IBM Research and Rice University Explore Watson-Powered Robot Aimed at Aiding
  Elderly and Caregivers
https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/51197.wss

Cognitive machines assist independent living as we age (with videos 2:33,
  4:15, 2:07)
https://www.ibm.com/blogs/research/2016/12/cognitive-assist

Related:
Personal Robots: Artificial Friends with Limited Benefits - 07/24/2015
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/539356/personal-robots-artificial-friends-with-limited-benefits