A Robot Care Assistant for People with Dementia
From: Wireless Design Magazine - 11/21/2017

My colleagues and I have just unveiled a prototype care robot that we hope
could take on some of the more mundane work of looking after elderly and
disabled people and those with conditions such as dementia. This would leave
human carers free to focus on the more personal parts of the job. The robot
could also do things humans don't have time to do now, like keeping a
constant check on whether someone is safe and well, while allowing them to
keep their privacy.

Our robot, named Stevie, is designed to look a bit (but not too much) like a
human, with arms and a head but also wheels. This is because we need it to
exist alongside people and perform tasks that may otherwise be done by a
human. Giving the robot these features help people realise that they can
speak to it and perhaps ask it to do things for them.

Stevie can perform some of its jobs autonomously, for example reminding users
to take medication. Other tasks are designed to involve human interaction.
For example, if a room sensor detects a user may have fallen over, a human
operator can take control of the robot, use it to investigate the event and
contact the emergency services if necessary.

Stevie can also help users stay socially connected. For example, the screens
in the head can facilitate a Skype call, eliminating the challenges many
users face using telephones. Stevie can also regulate room temperatures and
light levels, tasks that help to keep the occupant comfortable and reduce
possible fall hazards.

Read the entire article at:
https://www.wirelessdesignmag.com/news/2017/11/we-built-robot-care-assistant-people-dementia-heres-how-it-works
https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2017/11/we-built-robot-care-assistant-people-dementia-heres-how-it-works

Related:
AutoAlert Automatic Fall Detection (with video 3:51)
https://www.lifeline.philips.com/automatic-fall-detection.html

Robotic Project to Assist the Elderly
https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2015/05/robotic-project-assist-elderly

TCD researchers unveil Stevie the prototype care robot (with video 1:19)
https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/1113/919636-stevie

Robots like Stevie could allow the elderly to live in their own homes for 
 longer
http://www.thejournal.ie/stevie-the-robot-assisted-care-3694439-Nov2017

‘A cute little fecker’: Trinity’s Stevie the robot helps older people
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/a-cute-little-fecker-trinity-s-stevie-the-robot-helps-older-people-1.3290009



Not related:
What is Universal Design
http://universaldesign.ie/What-is-Universal-Design/The-7-Principles