Staying Healthy
High-tech socialization: Is a robotic companion in your future?
Robots that help maintain well-being are on the way.
Coming soon to a living room near you: a friendly robot right out of a movie, able to provide companionship and keep tabs on your health. It’s not science fiction; just like artificial intelligence that powers personal assistants in phones and "smart" vacuums in homes, social robots are real and poised to play supporting roles in our lives.
What is a social robot?
Social robots are assistive devices designed to engage you and enhance your well-being. "A social robot reads your emotions and responds to them. Maybe it reads your facial expression or analyzes your voice pattern to determine if you’re in distress or pain," says Dr. Samir Tulebaev, a geriatrician and robotics researcher at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
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