Posted on 08/11/2020 9:56:58 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Pretty, was the word an Alabama senior used to describe the lifelike robotic companion pet she received from a new pilot project administered by the Alabama Department of Senior Services. It was the first word she had said in a long time, according to department Commissioner Jean Brown.
The Alabama agency, along with several other state agencies managing programs for seniors in New York, Florida and Pennsylvania, have partnered with robotic pet manufacturer Ageless Innovation to combat loneliness and provide comfort and companionship for isolated seniors.
With insight into the growing epidemic of loneliness and need for interactive play amongst older adults, the company developed their line of Joy for All Companion Pets to feel, look and sound like real pets, Ageless Innovations CEO Ted Fischer told CNN.
We have technology inside that product that allows you to respond to touch and sound and light in different ways. And what we found is older adults wanted realism, Fischer said. Thats part of the magic of a companion pet.
Alabama Department of Senior Services has already seen promising results and local agencies are into their second round of ordering robotic pets, according to Brown.
The commissioner said the department plans to assess the program periodically for the next year to get a clearer picture of whether the pilot pet program has been as successful as she hopes it will be.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
Japan makes some very realistic dolls. They even maintain normal body temps. Medicare should cover the expense of owning one for us old guys. They only run 7-10 thousand. Barely the price of some wheel chairs.
I hated the dopey kid and artificial dog on old BSG.
Sorry, but a robot isn’t an animal. It’s fake phony fraud. It might be a distraction for a few days, but it’s not a pet.
I’ll take good ole K9 ala Dr. Who.
I wasn’t a fan of the kid, the robot dog would have been awesome.
It actually was a chimp in a suit.
Way better than Twiki. Beedee beedee bee.
Agreed that Twiki was worse.
Buck Rogers could have done a lot if the suits hadn’t changed everything.
I heard he keeps leaving little piles of nuts & bolts everywhere...
I saw that movie - it was called “Cherry 2000”. Good parable about warranties and a store of spare parts.
I’ve worked in nursing home and have seen elderly people light up when a dog or cat is put in for a visit. What REALLY makes elderly people light up, especially women are babies. Boy, when ever a baby is bought into a nursing home the old dears really start smiling.
Yeah, the wife and I have a couple of cats. We spoil them, they love it. Had to put one to sleep today, though. A MaineCoon/mix “Rocky’’. He had stomach cancer and the vet said it was too far gone. Boy I miss the little guy already.
My wife used to bring our daughter to work sometimes and my son & daughter went there every year for Halloween until they got older.
I wonder if the dept of senior services lets the old folks select their own robot :-)
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