Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Wednesday 20 december 2017

Scientists hope to inject robo-cat with AI to help seniors

By MICHELLE R. SMITH psychological sciences interviews to get a sense of
Associated Press at Brown. “Nobody the landscape of everyday
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — expects them to have a living for an older adult.
Imagine a cat that can conversation. Nobody They’re also trying to figure
keep a person company, expects them to move out how the souped-up
doesn’t need a litter around and fetch a robo-cats would do those
box and can remind an newspaper. They’re tasks, and then how it
aging relative to take her really good at providing would communicate that
medicine or help find her comfort.” information. They don’t
eyeglasses. Malle said they don’t think they want a talking
That’s the vision of toymaker want to make overblown cat, Littman said.
Hasbro and scientists at promises of what the cat “Cats don’t generally talk
Brown University, who can do, something he to you,” Littman said, and it
have received a three- and his fellow researcher might be upsetting if it did.
year, $1 million grant from — computer science They’re looking at whether
the National Science professor Michael Littman the cat could move its
Foundation to find ways to — said they’ve seen in head in a certain way to
add artificial intelligence other robots on the market. get across the message
to Hasbro’s “Joy for All” They hope to make a cat it’s trying to communicate,
robotic cat . that would perform a small In this Dec. 1, 2017, photo, 93-year-old Mary Derr picks up for example. In the end,
The cat, which has been set of tasks very well. her robot cat she calls “Buddy”off of the blanket it sits on they hope that by creating
on the market for two They also want to keep in her home she shares with her daughter Jeanne Elliott in an interaction in which
years, is aimed at seniors it affordable, just a few South Kingstown, R.I. the human is needed,
and meant to act as a hundred dollars. The Associated Press they could even help
“companion.” It purrs and current version costs $100. “Mom has a tendency for technology’s sake.” stem feelings of loneliness,
meows, and even appears They’ve given the project to forget things,” she She called the cat a depression and anxiety.
to lick its paw and roll a name that gets at that said, adding that a cat tool that could make “The cat doesn’t do
over to ask for a belly rub. idea: Affordable Robotic reminding her “we don’t things easier for someone things on its own. It needs
The Brown-Hasbro project Intelligence for Elderly have any appointments caring for a person with the human, and the
is aimed at developing Support, or ARIES. The today, take your meds, middle-stage dementia, human gets something
additional capabilities team includes researchers be careful when you walk, or to be used in nursing back,” Malle said. “That
for the cats to help older from Brown’s medical things like that, be safe, homes where pets are interaction is a huge
adults with simple tasks. school, area hospitals reassuring things, to have not allowed. The scientists step up. Loneliness and
Researchers at Brown’s and a designer at the that available during the are embarking on uselessness feelings are
H u m a n i t y - C e n t e r e d University of Cincinnati. It’s day would be awesome.” surveys, focus groups and hugely problematic.”q
Robotics Initiative are an idea that has appeal Diane Feeney Mahoney,
working to determine to Jeanne Elliott, whose a professor emerita at
which tasks make the most 93-year-old mother, Mary MGH Institute of Health
sense, and which can help Derr, lives with her in South Professions School
older adults stay in their Kingstown. Derr has mild of Nursing, who has
own homes longer, such dementia and the Joy for studied technology for
as finding lost objects, or All cat Elliott purchased older people, said the
reminding the owner to this year has become a project showed promise
call someone or go to a true companion for Derr, because of the team of
doctor’s appointment. keeping her company and researchers. She hopes
“It’s not going to iron soothing her while Elliott is they involve people from
and wash dishes,” said at work. Derr treats it like a the Alzheimer’s community
Bertram Malle, a professor real cat, even though she and that “we just don’t
of cognitive, linguistic and knows it has batteries. want to push technology