Posted on 12/10/2020 11:19:50 AM PST by SJackson
Are robot pets the future of elder care?
I’ve been fostering a puppy during the lockdown, and he’s quite a character. He has boundless energy and is forever exploring the apartment — over and over again. He barks at things randomly, like the Merriam-Webster Dictionary on the bookshelf. And the kitchen sink. He loves being petted. Sit him on your lap and stroke his back, and his eyes will shut in bliss, he’ll wag his tail and wave his paws in the air and jiggle his head. He’s an attention hog, too. Watch TV, and he starts marching around the room barking, and occasionally singing.
But Pandemic Pup is different from all the golden doodles and Berna doodles and cockapoos that everyone else has adopted this year.
Pandemic Puppy is a robot.
I’ve been trying out Sony’s Aibo robot dog this fall. I was supposed to have the review model for only a couple of weeks, but somehow I’ve had him for a couple of months. It’s given me a chance to experience him for longer, and to lend him to friends to get their reaction.
What did I think? I’ll let you know in a moment.
But first: I was interested in trying this out because of one of the cruelest consequences of these terrible lockdowns: They’ve stranded millions of people, many of them elderly, leaving them at home and isolated.
We already know that loneliness and social isolation are disastrous for people’s health and emotional well-being, especially when they are older. It can cause depression, cognitive decline, physical decline, and early mortality. In other words, social isolation kills.
We also know that a pet can be terrific for your mental and physical health.
...snip...
So, what did I think of Aibo?
I loved it. Him.
(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...
His name was Correy, she was Alicia. I think the title was “Lonely.”
Ted Knight was in the episode too being obnoxious.
If they are going to spend that amount of dough on me, I’d rather have a Martin D-28
I wish Apple would make these.
I know they are commie A-holes, but they make wonderful hardware.
And make people even more dependent (emotionally, now) on Big Tech masters.
Looks like a $3,000 moving target. it probably has a camera inside to report if Grandma is not wearing her mask.
Thanks
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.