Kazuyoshi Wada

Robot therapy for elders affected by dementia

We used the seal robot, Paro, for therapy of patients suffering from dementia at a cortical neuron clinic. The efficacy of the robot therapy was evaluated by DIMENSION, which detects patients cortical neuron activity from a 21-channel EEG. The results from preliminary experiments show that robot therapy has a high potential to improve the condition of brain activity in patients suffering from dementia. It is concluded that Paro will be widely used and provide help to people with dementia.

Effects of robot therapy for demented patients evaluated by EEG

Robot therapy for demented patients was conducted at a cranial nerve clinic. Two therapeutic seal robots, Paro, were introduced there. This paper describes the results of this experiment. DIMENSION (diagnosis method of neuronal dysfunction) was used to analyze recorded patients EEG before and after 20 minutes of robot therapy. Questionnaire concerning impression of seal robots was also conducted. The results showed that their cortical neurons activity was improved by interaction with the seal robots, especially for patients who liked the robots.

Development and preliminary evaluation of a caregiver's manual for robot therapy using the therapeutic seal robot Paro

Robot therapy is expected to have psychological, physiological and social effects similar to animal therapy. The use of a therapeutic seal robot, Paro, in various facilities for the elderly is spreading around the world. However, caregivers use Paro freely, and the ways in which they use Paro differ among them. Therefore, the effects are influenced by their skills. A manual that shows effective ways to use Paro is needed. In this paper, such a manual that shows effective methods for robot therapy is developed and its effectiveness is evaluated in a preliminary study with one caregiver and two patients.

Robot Therapy for Prevention of Dementia at Home – Results of Preliminary Experiment

In robot therapy for senile dementia patients, a seallike robot, Paro, was left in patients’ homes for a week to determine its neuropsychological influence. Efficacy was evaluated by the diagnosis method of neuronal dysfunction (DIMENSION), which detects a lack of smoothness of scalp potential distribution resulting from cortical neuronal impairment by analyzing recorded a patient’s electroencephalogram (EEG). Interaction with Paro by patients was observed by their families. In a preliminary experiment, 5 subjects were studied after informed consent was received from them or their families in accordance with the medical ethics committee of the University of Tsukuba and the AIST ethics committee.

Statistical analysis and comparison of questionnaire results of subjective evaluations of seal robot in Japan and UK

This paper describes research on mental commit robot that seeks a different direction from industrial robot, and that is not so rigidly dependent on objective measures such as accuracy and speed. The main goal of this research is to explore a new area in robotics, with an emphasis on human-robot interaction. In the previous research, we categorized robots into four categories in terms of appearance. Then, we introduced a cat robot and a seal robot, and evaluated them by interviewing many people in Japan. The results showed that physical interaction improved subjective evaluation. Moreover, a priori knowledge of a subject has much influence into subjective interpretation and evaluation of mental commit robot. In this paper, 440 subjects evaluated the seal robot, Paro by questionnaires in an exhibition at Science Museum in London, UK. This paper reports the results of statistical analysis of evaluation data, and compares them with those obtained in Japan.

Robot Therapy in a Care House - Change of Relationship among the Residents and Seal Robot during a 2-month Long Study

Robot therapy for elderly residents in a care house has been conducted since June 2005. Two therapeutic seal robots were introduced and activated for over 9 hours every day to interact with the residents. This paper presents the results of this experiment for two months. In order to investigate the psychological and social effects of the robots, each subject was interviewed by using the free pile sort method, and their social relationship was analysed. The results showed that the robots encouraged them to communicate with each other and then strengthened their social ties over the two months. In addition, the subjects accustomed to Paro and then they made personal relationship with Paro.

Long-term robot therapy in a health service facility for the aged - A case study for 5 years -

A long-term experiment of robot therapy for elderly people has been conducted at a health service facility for the aged since Aug. 2003. Three therapeutic seal robots, Paro, were introduced there. This paper describes the results of the experiment for five year. We regularly visited the facility twice or once a month and observed their interaction with the robots. Moreover, face scales that consist of illustrations of persons faces were used to evaluate persons moods. As the results, feelings of the elderly people were improved by interaction with the seal robots. The relationship the elderly and the robots still continued over the five year.

Tabulation and analysis of questionnaire results of subjective evaluation of seal robot at Science Museum in London

This paper describes research on mental commit robot that seeks a different direction from industrial robot, and that is not so rigidly dependent on objective measures such as accuracy and speed. The main goal of this research is to explore a new area in robotics, with an emphasis on human-robot interaction. In the previous research, we categorized robots into four categories in terms of appearance. Then, we introduced a cat robot and a seal robot, and evaluated them by interviewing many people. The results showed that physical interaction improved subjective evaluation. Moreover, a priori knowledge of a subject has much influence into subjective interpretation and evaluation of mental commit robot. In this paper, 440 subjects evaluated the seal robot, Paro by questionnaires in an exhibition at the Science Museum in London, U.K. This paper reports the results of statistical analysis of evaluation data.

Psychological and social effects in long-term experiment of robot assisted activity to elderly people at a health service facility for the aged

A long-term experiment of robot assisted activity for elderly people has been conducted at a health service facility for the aged since Aug. 2003. Two therapeutic seal robots, Paro, were introduced there. This paper describes the first interim report of the experiment for three months. Face scales that consist of illustrations of persons faces were used to evaluate persons moods. In addition, geriatric depression scales were used to measure persons depression by questionnaires. As the results, feelings of the elderly people were improved by interaction with the seal robots.

Psychophysiological effects by interaction with mental commit robot

We have been working on research and development of a mental commit robot which aims to provide humans mental effects such as enjoyment and relaxation. In previous research, we have performed subjective evaluation of a mental commit robot by some interview forms. The results showed physical interaction improved subjective evaluations. Moreover, a priori knowledge of a subject had influence on subjective interpretation and evaluation. In this paper, we applied physiological measurements to investigate influence on a human of physical interaction with the mental commit robot. As physiological measurements, we applied the electrocardiogram, respiration rate and the electrodermal response. We measured mood state by the profile of mood states. The finding of an experiment showed changes in activities of the autonomic nervous system. In addition it was shown that there were some differences under mood states caused by contact with a texture.