Pearl, a Robot for the Elderly 170
Roland Piquepaille writes "The world population is rapidly aging -- at least in developed countries. The number of seniors will explode in the next two decades. So researchers everywhere are trying to find new ways to help elderly people to continue to live at home. This is why a team from Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh, University of Michigan and Stanford University has spent the last four years to design Pearl, a robot specifically designed to help old people. Pearl has a humanoid aspect and is 4-feet high. Still, don't rush to the store to buy one for your old folks. It costs more than $100,000 and is not entirely ready for mass production. This overview contains more details and references. It also includes two pictures of the -- quite cute -- Pearl."
Interesting (Score:5, Insightful)
But I'd hire an assistant for that price.
Re:Interesting (Score:1)
Re:Interesting (Score:2)
Re:Interesting (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Interesting (Score:3, Insightful)
The whole point of building these things is that, eventually, there will be a dearth of teenagers, nurses, and other humans to help the elderly.
Too, a full-time robot nurse would probably cost less than a human one in the long run, and be able to monitor a disabled senior 24 hours a day, 365(6) days a year.
(At least three humans would be required to perform the same task (outside of nursing homes).)
My hope, though, is that medical science will have advanced enough that nanotechnology w
Re:Interesting (Score:2)
Seriously... if you have $100,000 consider spending it on young folks.
Shover (Score:1, Offtopic)
Don't they proof-read? (Score:5, Funny)
only 4'? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:only 4'? (Score:1)
Of course, they did say that it doesn't have arms currently. How'd stuff get up onto that high shelf in the first place?
Re:only 4'? (Score:3, Funny)
Didn't anyeone mention that most of that $100,000 cost is the jet packs...
Re:only 4'? (Score:2)
Though, honestly (and I'm 5'0" too) nothing is quite so useful as just crawling up and standing on the counters, imo. I suppose that when I'm 90 and arthritic I'll be looking for better answers.
Or maybe they could give the robot arms like Bender's
Valerie, the domestic android is a better deal. (Score:5, Interesting)
http://www.androidworld.com/prod19.htm [androidworld.com]
It will be capable of washing dishes etc, and will cost only $59000.
Re:Valerie, the domestic android is a better deal. (Score:1)
Re:Valerie, the domestic android is a better deal. (Score:5, Funny)
http://www.androidworld.com/prod19.htm
It will be capable of washing dishes etc, and will cost only $59000."
This will be the best prom ever!!
Re:Valerie, the domestic android is a better deal. (Score:1)
Re:Valerie, the domestic android is a better deal. (Score:2)
P.S. The parent might be modded funny, I don't know, because I browse with scores disabled - don't like my perception of the comment to be influenced by the moderation.
Re:EMBEDDED AUDIO LINK (Score:2)
I see no equivalent option in the latest Firebird. Yes, I know embedded audio isn't a standard "feature". And yes, I know you were mostly trolling (at least I hope so, with a phrase like "your web" in there). But, in fact, short of using about:config (which somebody asking a question like this wouldn't know about), Firebird currently has a severe shortage of user-accessible options compared to IE or the last Mozilla I used.
Re:EMBEDDED AUDIO LINK (Score:2)
As a better browsing alternative I would recommend Opera. To turn off the sound I just need to press F12 and disable "Enable sounds" and "Enable plug-ins". It can be turned back on just as easily.
Re:EMBEDDED AUDIO LINK (Score:2)
Sponsored by Old Glory Insurance (Score:5, Funny)
Here is one of their commercials [robotcombat.com]
Old Lady #1: When my ex-husband passed away, the insurance company said his policy didn't cover him.
Old Lady #2: They didn't have enough money for the funeral.
Old Lady #3: It's so hard nowadays, with all the gangs and rap music..
Old Lady #1: What about the robots?
Old Lady #4: Oh, they're everywhere!
Old Lady #1: I don't even know why the scientists make them.
Old Lady #2: Darren and I have a policy with Old Glory Insurance, in case we're attacked by robots.
Old Lady #1: An insurance policy with a robot plan? Certainly, I'm too old.
Old Lady #2: Old Glory covers anyone over the age of 50 against robot attack, regardless of current health.
[ cut to Sam Waterston, Compensated Endorser ]
Sam Waterson: I'm Sam Waterston, of the popular TV series "Law & Order". As a senior citizen, you're probably aware of the threat robots pose. Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel. Well, now there's a company that offers coverage against the unfortunate event of robot attack, with Old Glory Insurance. Old Glory will cover you with no health check-up or age consideration. [ SUPER: Limitied Benefits First Two Years ] You need to feel safe. And that's harder and harder to do nowadays, because robots may strike at any time. [ show pie chart reading "Cause of Death in Persons Over 50 Years of Age": Heart Disease, 42% - Robots, 58% ] And when they grab you with those metal claws, you can't break free.. because they're made of metal, and robots are strong. Now, for only $4 a month, you can achieve peace of mind in a world full of grime and robots, with Old Glory Insurance. So, don't cower under your afghan any longer. Make a choice. [ SUPER: "WARNING: Persons denying the existence of Robots may be Robots themselves. ] Old Glory Insurance. For when the metal ones decide to come for you - and they will.
Re:Sponsored by Old Glory Insurance (Score:1)
Re:Sponsored by Old Glory Insurance (Score:1)
Whoa! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Whoa! (Score:2)
$100,000 (Score:5, Insightful)
Since they can hardly take care of themselves, I hired almost-full time help to take care of them. I pay this person almost $80,000 a year for this.
A robot to do the same thing for a one time investment of $100,000 seems like a pretty good deal.
- John.
Re:$100,000 (Score:4, Funny)
I pay this person almost $80,000 a year for this....
- John
Travolta? Cusak? Ashcroft?
Re:$100,000 (Score:4, Funny)
Re:$100,000 (Score:2)
Re:$100,000 (Score:3, Funny)
Since they can hardly take care of themselves, I hired almost-full time help to take care of them. I pay this person almost $80,000 a year for this.
I'm from India, I will happily do it for $40,000, are you hiring ? :-P
Re:$100,000 (Score:2)
earth-shaterring? (Score:5, Funny)
Well, we'll save up on burial costs, but the clean up will be a bitch...
Re:earth-shaterring? (Score:1)
Re:moderators (Score:1)
What kind of logic is this?! (Score:2, Insightful)
Elderly people in developing countries are lacking **human contact**. Perhaps one of the best innovations in this respect in recent years has been to combine old folks homes in community buildings where childrens nurseries and other activities take place.
Re:What kind of logic is this?! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:What kind of logic is this?! (Score:1, Troll)
Duh,...I meant to write developed, not developing.
As for old folks homes, I think the problem is thicker. In countries with "extended" family homes you have an environment with lots of people coming and going all day. In developed countries the suburban household of a nuclear family is unoccupied for large parts of the day. Old folks home make sense **if** they are well run and integrated into the community where family, grandchildren etc. live.
Re:What kind of logic is this?! (Score:2, Funny)
They're called geriatric concentration camps. They give me the creeps.
--Rob
Re:What kind of logic is this?! (Score:2, Insightful)
Intimidation (Score:1)
Hmmm (Score:3, Funny)
"Excuse me Pearl, I have to go collect my pension, could you let me open the door please dear?"
"I'm sorry Gwyneth, I'm afraid I can't do that"
Do you have stairs in your house? (Score:2, Funny)
"cute" ??? (Score:2)
Re:"cute" ??? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:"cute" ??? (Score:2)
Robots with human faces strike me as creepy
Hence the difference between the 3000 and 4000 series.
Re:"cute" ??? (Score:2, Funny)
another door stop (Score:3, Funny)
Would it sense a stair to avoid a tragic fall?
Nope.
Can it bring a chair to relieve walking fatigue?
Uh, no.
What century is it going to be before futuristic versions of household help are actually in someone's home?
This one.
I would much rather help my mother out myself or hire in home help....not only is it much cheeper but at least she would be dealing with real people. Instead she'd be getting:
"Hell..o young madam how may i assist you?"
"quick get me a chair, a phone, a glass of water, anything to help me"
"Negative, i am unable to decrypt your off-topic request"
"god damnit your a helper-bot, what can you do?"
"i can dance, dance, dance if i want to" "and leave this world behind"
If the old folks get a robot named Pearl... (Score:2)
Re:If the old folks get a robot named Pearl... (Score:2)
Wouldn't you have to spell it 'Pythoan'?
Re:If the old folks get a robot named Pearl... (Score:1)
Will it be a pusher robot or a shover robot? (Score:4, Funny)
INSIGHTFUL?!? (Score:1)
How about Elderly Exterminating Robots? (Score:1)
This is great... (Score:1)
pak chooie unf (Score:1, Funny)
target - stairs
it was that i did
pak chooie
A matter of perspective (Score:4, Interesting)
My other sig is in jail.
Re:A matter of perspective (Score:2)
Re:A matter of perspective (Score:1)
The advances in wheelchairs;
the stair crawling, and height adjusting capabilities especially, make it easier for disadvantaged folks (of any age) to get around.
Regarding medicines and other "patient stats" - I would rather use a suite of sensors (heart/pressure/dryness etc) and have the monitoring computer inform the medical staff of differences.
Finding tools and assistants to enchance existing skills is beneficial, but taking over is a step too far.
In a similar vein, I am all for
QRIO (Score:1)
Hard-drive crash? (Score:1)
Ahhhh, I've fallen! And I can't get up!
--Rob
Medical Care (Score:5, Insightful)
Dan East
Re:Medical Care (Score:2)
By seeing how Granny responds to some sweet robot luvin'.
Re:Medical Care (Score:3, Funny)
Didn't you watch star wars?
okay... (Score:1)
boom! (Score:3, Funny)
>> explode in the next two decades
Did anyone else read this as, "a number of seniors will explode in the next two decades"?
very cool, but i wonder... (Score:2)
just kidding. 'nother interesting post on his blog...
What about the programming language? (Score:1, Offtopic)
Perl, the programming language for the certifiably insane.
Remote Presence (Score:1)
The cost (Score:5, Insightful)
This is quite competative with humans, which seem to cost 25K for unskilled helpers to 60K for a nurse. If nothing else, the robots would be useful if full time help were unaffordable.
Re:The cost (Score:1, Insightful)
Obligatory SNL Reference (Score:3, Funny)
Old Lady #2: They didn't have enough money for the funeral.
Old Lady #3: It's so hard nowadays, with all the gangs and rap music..
Old Lady #1: What about the robots?
Old Lady #4: Oh, they're everywhere!
Old Lady #1: I don't even know why the scientists make them.
Old Lady #2: Darren and I have a policy with Old Glory Insurance, in case we're attacked by robots.
Old Lady #1: An insurance policy with a robot plan? Certainly, I'm too old.
Old Lady #2: Old Glory covers anyone over the age of 50 against robot attack, regardless of current health.
[ cut to Sam Waterston, Compensated Endorser ]
Sam Waterson: I'm Sam Waterston, of the popular TV series "Law & Order". As a senior citizen, you're probably aware of the threat robots pose. Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel. Well, now there's a company that offers coverage against the unfortunate event of robot attack, with Old Glory Insurance. Old Glory will cover you with no health check-up or age consideration.
[ SUPER: Limitied Benefits First Two Years ]
You need to feel safe. And that's harder and harder to do nowadays, because robots may strike at any time.
[ show pie chart reading "Cause of Death in Persons Over 50 Years of Age": Heart Disease, 42% - Robots, 58% ]
And when they grab you with those metal claws, you can't break free.. because they're made of metal, and robots are strong. Now, for only $4 a month, you can achieve peace of mind in a world full of grime and robots, with Old Glory Insurance. So, don't cower under your afghan any longer. Make a choice.
[ SUPER: "WARNING: Persons denying the existence of Robots may be Robots themselves. ]
Old Glory Insurance. For when the metal ones decide to come for you - and they will.
This makes me think of The Electric Grandmother (Score:2, Informative)
It doesn't need mobility. And it's worthless (Score:2)
Guy #1: what happened?
Guy#2: she hit a bump in the rug and turned over
Guy #1: naturally
Considering this thing doesn't manipulate it's environment or leave the house, why does it have to be mobile? Just put video cameras up around the residence and have it hooked into a central monitoring system.
Basically the article says the thing doesn't do anything interesting yet and won't for 10
I wonder... (Score:2)
Probably the best use for genetic algorithms would be speech recognition; With each suceedding generation of (?) rules, she gets more and more accurate.
All I know is, I've got three grandparents and they could all use one.
Does it run Perl? (Score:2, Funny)
Ummm... (Score:2)
...couldn't we just live in small, dense cities connected by public transportation? Not only would it solve many of the problems of the elderly living at home, it would also cut pollution, reduce dependance on foreign oil, and save farm/timber land.
Of course, what do I know? I'm just a guy who has spent the better part of my 36 years in the suburbs, feeling quite powerless to change the poor design around me...
And yes, I know this is pie-in-the-sky stuff that would be hard to make happen without wreck
An aging world population? (Score:3, Funny)
"The world population is rapidly aging"
I think each person ages at an average rate of 1 year per year...so yes, technically, that is true.
Go stand by the stairs... (Score:2, Funny)
Question (Score:1, Funny)
Note: I plan to die young, and not put this burden on the public at large. Someone pass me another bottle of whiskey, eh?
Im imature (Score:1)
There are much more useful and interesting bots... (Score:2)
People get all in a twist over things like the DARPA Grand Challenge and the military's desire to "robotize" war. The real win is when someone realizes that the same autonomous concepts that could drive a vehicle 150 miles through the desert would be gre
I, for one (Score:1)
There should be a moderation category for "/. clichés"
Future support calls? (Score:5, Funny)
Grandma: I think my robot went insane.
Operator: What do you mean?
Pearl: @!#$ *&!@% ^#@% generic v,iagr4!
Operator: Was that Pearl?!
Grandma: Yes, and she's been doing this for a week. At first, it wasn't so bad, but it's been happening more and more often. And some of the things she says... well... they're horrible!
Pearl: More @#!$ pr0n for you!!
Operator: My goodness! OK, let's see, have you made any changes to her settings lately?
Grandma: Well... I did turn the reading thing on.
Operator: Reading thing?
Grandma: Yes, you know, it reads my e-mail to me... It was so nice, it told me all about this sweepstakes thingy...
Pearl: Refinance your @&*$ now!!! Low rates 4 U...
hmmm.... (Score:1)
(pearl): I'm sorry I can't do that Dave.
(old man): What? Who the hell is Dave?
(old man): Pearl, where are you going! Pearl!
cvaS
Exploding (Score:1, Redundant)
A number of seniors will explode in the next two decades
damnit! (Score:2)
That isint the way to country kitchen buffet! (Score:1)
Call the system "NeverCrash"
One thing microsoft wont be able to cash in on!!!
real purpose: (Score:1)
I saw some of the source code for this... (Score:2)
Laws of Physics (Score:3, Funny)
I guess developing countries can't afford the laws of physics like the rest of the world where everyone else ages at the same rate due to the steady flow of time?
Again rapidly? (Score:1)
Faster than one year per year? YIPES!
Not just a developed nation problem (Score:2)
This is not just a problem in the developed countries. Forecasts indicate that by 2050 the elderly will be a bigger fraction of the population in China than the elderly in the US. China's birth rate is lower than the US's, and they don't have immigration at the level that we do. While the Chinese economy is currently growing faster than the US economy, they are starting
soylent green (Score:1)
Re:soylent green (Score:1)
When I become elderly (Score:2, Funny)
Outsourcing (Score:1)
Sig under construction.
Re:Unneeded solution to an avoidable problem (Score:2)
Re:Unneeded solution to an avoidable problem (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Unneeded solution to an avoidable problem (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Unneeded solution to an avoidable problem (Score:2)
I second that!! I'm from India, a developing country.
ALL (yeah all) my grandparents were fully mobile and could go out even on long journeys on their own. They didn't need anybody's help.
My nanny was the most extraordinary kind of lady... he weighted may be less than 50, a very lean and frail figure but-
1. Seldom fell ill.
2. Was in full health when she died in her sleep at age of ~80+
3. Wore glasses, but could pick chaff and pebbles from rice!
4. Used to help in regular