Future of technology in aged care
Australian residential aged care facilities are likely 10 years or so away from seeing robots on legs, as opposed to wheels, according to a Queensland based university professor.
Professor Wendy Moyle claims aged care has concerns about the future of technology in the sector.
Professor Vladimir Estivill-Castro, from Griffith University, will be one of many to speak at the university’s free Robotic Symposium on Wednesday, where he will discuss the future of robotic technology in aged care, particularly for those with disabilities such as blindness.
Leading the event is Professor Wendy Moyle, from Griffith Health Institute’s Centre for Health Practice Innovation, who has been widely publicised for her successful research into how robots can help people with dementia.
Professor Moyle will discuss her work with telepresence robots that facilitate conversation between the person with dementia and their family, as well as her robot seal ‘Paro’ and a new prototype teddy bear that has reportedly received some promising results with people in reducing symptoms of agitation.
“The government is keenly advocating for increased technology within the sector, but aged care facilities are concerned about how they can get involved or how they will make the preparations to make this a reality,” Professor Moyle says.
She claims issues concerning technology support and the required increases in broadband coverage are important issues, as well as privacy and how it can affect aged care facilities when implementing technologies.
International guest speaker, Stephen von Rump, Sweden’s Giraff Technology chief executive, will also speak at the symposium about the aged care experience in Europe.
Read DPS News’ story, New centre gives robots the ‘gift of sight’, about Queensland University of Technology's new $19 million ARC Centre of Excellence in Robotic Vision.
