How would you feel about a robot looking after you?

Romeo, humanoid robots from Aldebaran, are seen during the Innorobo European summit/

Image: AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani

THE WORLD IS going to need a lot more robots in future to care for older generations, the chief engineer behind a potentially life-changing robot designed for Joanne O’Riordan believes.

Speaking last week at the unveiling of the device, Conor McGinn said that the western world is “going to face a huge problem in about forty years”.

“You’re going to have all these old people and very few young people to look after them,” he told TheJournal.ie.

Personal assistant

McGuinn noted that personal assistant robots could be available to assist people in their homes to alleviate this problem.

“Most people would be very apprehensive of the concept, but change will happen”

Not only could a robot help them by picking up items or by doing simple chores, it could also keep them safe.

“An older person living at home could wear an accelerometer watch”, he said.

If it detects a fall, the robot could come over to assist, and ask some basic questions to judge whether or not they are okay.

“If necessary, it could even Skype emergency services. This is all very easy to do.”

Not only does potientially allow years of independent living, it could even provide someone living at home with companionship like a pet, McGuinn said.

Some soldiers who have worked with robots used to disarm bombs have reported to have actually missed the robot after returning to civilian life.

Relationship

However, this kind of relationship is basically unheard of right now, and something that people might even consider it weird.

McGuinn said that these robots are not meant to replace people, and that it is a different kind of relationship.

He and his team last week demonstrated a prototype robot designed for Joanne O’Riordan, an 18-year-old was born with a rare condition known as Total Amelia which means she has no limbs.