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These family robots can play trivia and act as security. Can they cure loneliness?

Ken Mattlin and his wife Audrey Mattlin live in Bakersfield, under the same roof as many robots. There’s ElliQ, who’s a table lamp, Goo-goo-eyed Astro, a vacuum cleaner, Jibo, a robot that sits on the table.

Robot technology has hugely advanced over the last few years. Including a big contribution to the development of digital health and they’ve helped improve medical care. They can also complete hazardous tasks that are dangerous for humans to do.

The point of all these house robots and other technologies are partially used to try to help the isolation that is felt by thousands and thousands of older adults. Many robot pets are now used in some California nursing homes.

Through California’s Department of Aging, they have made $50 million in technology. Which can help explore the best way to address loneliness.

Maja Mataric, a USC professor, engineer, neuroscientist, and pediatric specialist, has been developing robots that can help children and older adults. She believes that machines can help those cut off and isolated from other people. However, she doesn’t think the devices can help after that, because they’re not sophisticated and personalized enough to help the individual needs of a person.

A robot could be programmed to remind someone about the things they need to do, like, taking a walk, or about taking medication and keeping appointments.

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