Wan Ling Chang

Use of seal-like robot PARO in sensory group therapy for older adults with dementia

This work presents the preliminary results of an eight- week study of the seal-like robot PARO being used in a sensory therapy activity in a local nursing home. Participants were older adults with different levels of cognitive impairment. We analyzed participant behaviors in video recorded during the weekly interactions between older adults, a therapist, and PARO. We found that PAROs continued use led to a steady increase in physical interaction between older adults and the robot and an increasing willingness among participants to interact with it.

Situated Analysis of Interactions between Cognitively Impaired Older Adults and the Therapeutic Robot PARO

In order to explore the social and behavioral mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of PARO, a robot resembling a baby seal, we conducted an eight-week-long study of the robots use in a group activity with older adults in a local retirement facility. Our research confirms PAROs positive effects on participants by increasing physical and verbal interaction as evidenced by our behavioral analysis of video recorded interactions. We also analyzed the behavioral patterns in the group interaction, and found that the mediation of the therapist, the individual interpretations of PARO by different participants, and the context of use are significant factors that support the successful use of PARO in therapeutic implementations. In conclusion, we discuss the importance of taking the broader social context into account in robot evaluation.

A Robot of My Own: Participatory Design of Socially Assistive Robots for Independently Living Older Adults Diagnosed with Depression

This paper presents an ongoing project using participatory design methods to develop design concepts for socially assistive robots SARs with older adults diagnosed with depression and co-occurring physical illness. We frame SARs development in the context of preventive patient-centered healthcare, which empowers patients as the primary drivers of health and aims to delay the onset of disease rather than focusing on treatment. After describing how SARs can be of benefit in this form of healthcare, we detail our participatory design study with older adults and therapists aimed at developing preventive SARs applications for this population. We found therapists and older adults to be willing and able to participate in assistive robot design, though hands-on participation was a challenge. Our findings suggest that important areas of concern for older adults with depression are social interaction and companionship, as well as technologies that are easy to use and require minimal intervention.

Interaction Expands Function: Social Shaping of the Therapeutic Robot PARO in a Nursing Home

We use the ’’social shaping of technology and society’’ framework to qualitatively analyze data collected through observation of human-robot interaction (HRI) between social actors ina nursing home (staff, residents, visitors) and the socially assistive robot PARO. The study took place over the course of three months, during which PARO was placed in a publicly accessibly space where participants could interact with it freely. Social shaping focuses attention onsocial factors that affect the use and interpretation of technology in particular contexts. Wetherefore aimed to understand how different social actors make sense of and use PARO in daily interaction. Our results show participant gender, social mediation, and individual sense making led to differential use and interpretation of the robot, which affected the success of human-robot interactions. We also found that exposure to others interacting with PARO affected the nursing staff’s perceptions of robots and their potential usefulness in eldercare. This shows that social shaping theory provides a valuable perspective for understanding the implementation of robots in long-term HRI and can inform interaction design in this domain. Categories and Subject Descriptors H.1.2. User/Machine Systems; I.2.9. Robotics: Commercial robots and applications; K.4.2 SocialIssues: Assistive technologies for persons with disabilities General Terms Human factors

Observational study of naturalistic interactions with the socially assistive robot PARO in a nursing home

To explore the development and maintenance of human-robot interaction (HRI) in a real-world setting, we conducted a three-month long field study with the socially assistive robot PARO in a nursing home. We placed PARO a public area in the institution and observed naturally occurring interactions of nursing home residents, staff, and visitors with the robot. We collected both quantitative (on-site behavioral coding and interactor counts) and qualitative (observational field notes) data. The results of behavioral analysis complemented with information from our field notes show that interaction with PARO was often not spontaneous and that mediation from staff and family members was integral to successful interactions between residents and PARO. We also observed that individual interactors engaged with the robot in diverse ways based on their needs. We conclude by discussing design and methodological implications for in situ HRI studies.

Studying Socially Assistive Robots in Their Organizational Context: Studies with PARO in a Nursing Home

We explore human-robot interaction (HRI) with socially assistive robots within a broader social context instead of one-on-one interaction.. In this paper, we describe two in situ studies of the socially assistive robot PARO in a local nursing home -- one in a controlled small group setting, and one in free-form interaction in a public space -- as well as our future research agenda to facilitate socially situated exploration of assistive robotics in the wild. We particularly focus on how people and institutions scaffold successful HRI, and identify how social mediation, individual sensemaking, and other social factors affect the success of HRI.

Potential use of robots in Taiwanese nursing homes

Nursing homes and long-term care institutions often need technological assistance because of the high ratio of low-functioning residents coupled with a shortage of caregivers. To explore the potential uses of emerging robotic technologies in nursing homes, we apply Forlizzis concept of the product ecology and a user-centered design approach involving field study and focus groups to understand what kind of robot design would be suitable in the nursing home context. Our preliminary results show that instead of a robot which completely replaces human labor, nursing home staff prefer robot assistants who fit into their working process. We also learned the most appropriate functions for robots in nursing homes were helping with minor tasks and encouraging social interaction among residents.

Exploring Taiwanese nursing homes as product ecologies for assistive robots

Nursing homes and long-term care institutions often need technological assistance because of the high ratio of low-functioning residents coupled with a shortage of caregivers. To explore the potential uses of emerging robotic technologies in nursing homes, we apply Forlizzis concept of the product ecology and a user-centered design approach involving field observations and focus groups to understand what kind of robot design would be suitable for the nursing home context. Our results show that instead of robots replacing human labor, nursing home staff prefer robot assistants who fit into their work process. We also learned the most appropriate functions for robots in nursing homes were helping with minor tasks and encouraging social interaction among residents. Our study was performed in two nursing homes in Taiwan.