Should robots participate in caregiving tasks? That was the question when the residents of Diakonveien Omsorg+ were invited to a debate with researchers and staff.
The debate was organized by the research project "Vulnerability in the Robot Society” (VIROS)" at the University of Oslo, in collaboration with Diakonhjemmet and VID. The goal with the debate was to discuss welfare technology in elderly care for older people living at home with the users themselves. Examples of such technology include the robot assistant TIAGo and cats and dogs as "robot companions."
The debate touched on topics such as what robots mean for healthcare services, robots as welfare technology, what robots do for the user, how the user perceives the interaction with the robot, and whether the user finds it useful.
Senior researcher Dr. Diana Saplacan from the University of Oslo moderated the debate, which took the form of an open conversation where both residents, Diakonhjemmet staff, and representatives from academia and research participated. Among them were Professor at UiO Jim Tørresen, Professor at VID Zada Pajalic and Managing Director at Omsorg+, Hamid Reza Irai.
During the debate, some real scenarios were simulated using the robot or a system that controls the robot.
Published by Kjersti Busterud. Date: 20. October 2023.