Paro , the world's most therapeutic robot, was developed by Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology to provide emotional well being to humans.
Based on the well-known properties of Pet Therapy , "Paro" - who is a Baby Harp Seal - has been designed to provide relaxation, entertainment and emotional companionship for children and adults who cannot care for a live animal, or whose environment prevents cohabitation with a live animal. Take a gander at all this amazing robot offers:
Covered in soft white antibacterial fur, Paro's artificial intelligence means it can mimic animal behavior and over time, even develop its own character. Paro has five kinds of sensors: tactile, light, audition, temperature, and posture sensors, with which it can perceive people and its environment. With the light sensor, Paro can recognize light and dark. He feels being stroked by tactile sensor or being held by the posture sensor. As Paro is an autonomous robot, it can express feelings, such as surprise, happiness, shyness and fear and voluntarily moves its eyes, head and legs. He can also recognize the direction of voice and words such as its name, greetings, and praise with its audio sensor. Oh, and by the way, this little guy recognizes seven different languages.
This amazing robot has been used in pediatric hospital wards, nursing homes, and with children who have special needs.
Technology is so cool.
35 comments:
That is so COOL!
This is amazing! In the ER and pediatric wards I've seen the true benefit of pet therapy. There are some well known dogs in Massachusetts that visit the ERs and you should see what they do for the kids!! I'm all for technology for this, however, because you don't have to worry about allergies, feeding, hygiene, other sibs fears, trips to the vet...the smile in the pictures says it all!
That is amazing! I think Pet therapy is wonderful.
This is so cool. I wonder how much it costs?
Oh, that's wonderful. So many kids have to be not only be sick, but do it without pets or even stuffed animals. Thank the Gods for something like this. It's adorable, too--looks like a baby seal!
Just LOOKING at the pictures makes me feel happy. I can totally see how this would be very beneficial to many people.
I remember reading a study saying dementia patients that were given baby dolls to care for had an extremely high rate of contentment. This is one better!
Dear Stranger,
I loved this when I read it.
Dear Dr Gwenn,
What a wonderful invention. THe smiles DO say it all.
Dear Heidi,
Love, love, love animals and I think being a Pet Therapist must be rocking cool.
Dear Tee,
I think it said it costs about 1,000 $, I think. Insurance may cover it. In time, I'm sure the price will come down.
Dear Cracker,
Isn't Paro's face and eyes adorable. Makes me wanna give lotsa squishes to it.
Dear Dawn,
I know. What a face. Amazing technology too.
Dear SHannon,
I recall that research too. Anything that can enhance a person's life is a great thing.
~Deb
Ahhh...that face! How could it not cheer someone, especially a child up!??? I know it's been awhile since I dropped by. I hope you're doing well.
That is so so so cool!!
I remember seeing this somewhere a while ago, possibly on the bbc news website and immedaitely wanting one. Its such a brilliant idea and hopefully the cost isn't prohibitively expensive to those who'd benefit most from it.
They are sooo cute! And what a great idea!
How far modern technology has come! I am wondering how much he costs. I am glad this invention provides comfort to children and adults. It seems to be improving quality of life for many.
Gash, cool! Amazing! Brilliant! I remember the days that there was a robot dog from Japan. Japan seems to be the leading figure in Robotics with ibo or something called like that and so even in humanoid type robots.
I worked at my Local Humane Society for about 2 years, and we would bring this one dog into a nursing home every week...the older folks loved it and the dog made them feel so good and put smiles on their faces.
Its amazing what you can do when it comes to therapy.
Wow, thats amazing.
Cool, but it will never take the place of my fur-kids!!!
Oh, I guess I'm not late for writing a question since I forgot to finish the sentence with the question and reply is still not done yet. ; )
So, Dr.Deb, are you going to buy this pet? : )
ok HOW do I get my insurance to buy me one:P
That looks so cool. I am sure there are a lot of people who would benefit from one of them
technology IS cool! that said, whenever I hear of some new, make it more like real life, technology I get nervous. one only has to watch terminator or irobot a few times to wonder where on earth we're headed in the evolutionary process. yikes!
Pet Therapy has amazing rewards.
I like the robotic pets better, maybe its because my allergy's to animal dander.
that is really neat
I also bet really expensive though.
Wow. You watch the news and it gets ya down, but seeing things like this reminds me that there IS hope for the future! Thank God the geniuses how put this robot together don't work in weapons development, that's all I can say!
Seriously, I think the next 10 or 15 years are going to be very, very exciting.
And it speaks seven different languages? Crazy...it's like that CP30 on Star Wars only less annoying.
This is the kind of thing I need to be putting in my blog. It's been so depressing lately!
In the Alzheimer's home where my wife works pets and music seem to bring the strongest responses from those in the "latter stages". The mind is an amazing thing!
alan
hmm i am thinking what about mums wqith special needs can you give the children one of the dogs for the day send them out to the yard and say play with it whilst we go to bed and snooze, hmm nothings ever that easy right ;)
That's incredible.
Hope you are well, Deb.
Sorry I haven't been by for awhile.
Take care, Meow
Stopping by to say hello and let you know that I am thinking of you!
XOXO,
Sarah
That looks awesome!
I want one!!!!!!!
Hope you are well!
Love
dianna
I keep thinking what a great thing this would be for our class.
Special needs preschoolers.. this would rock!!!
To all,
Thanks for you comments.
~Deb
Oh WOW! I hope I hope that the cost of this could eventually help it be more places; this is FANTASTIC, and just the thing that would be so helpful for so many!
Hmmm... am I the only one who finds this a bit sad and disturbing. I can see how this toy would amuse and bring happiness to a child - just like any toy would. I wonder if the girl in the picture would smile just as happily with just about any other toy - I always thought that part of the benefit of pet therapy is interacting with a living, breathing creature in a positive way...but this toy is an electronic device, it isn't really alive....I don't know, maybe I'm just weird. Interesting read though.
Great article. We're investigating this field a little further and trying to get ahold of Paro and Dacky (the puppy version.)
Electronic Pets have been found to encourage interaction for
children with special needs, expecially autism.
Electronic Pet Benefits
This is wonderful. My grandma used one when she was in hospice care. I was skeptical at first, but because of her situation this was actually better suited than a real therapy animal. It helped calm her and did not have any of the pet allergens normally associated with therapy animals. Plus it's oddly adorable.
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