Japan's Elderly Nix Robot Helpers 200
SteeldrivingJon writes with this quote from a story at the BBC:
"In Japan, robots are friendly helpers, not Terminators. So when they join the workforce, as they do often in factories, they are sometimes welcomed on their first day with Shinto religious ceremonies. But whether the sick and elderly will be as welcoming to robot-like tech in their homes is a question that now vexes a Japanese care industry that is struggling with a massive manpower shortage. Automated help in the home and hospitals, believe some, could be the answer. A rapidly aging first world is also paying close attention to Japan's dalliance with automated care. ... The country's biggest robot maker, Tmsuk, created a life-like one-meter tall robot six years ago, but has struggled to find interested clients. Costing a cool $100,000 a piece, a rental program was scrapped recently because of 'failing to meet demands of consumers' and putting off patients at hospitals. 'We want humans caring for us, not machines,' was one response."
Re:Xenophobia... (Score:5, Funny)
They just need to consume more fries and cola (and keep away from that grilled fish and green tea). Then they'd have fewer elderly
Surprisingly they smoke quite a lot and they're still not dropping dead quite fast enough for their economy.
Re:Cut the price (Score:5, Funny)
At something like $1000/unit, I bet these people would be singing a different tune.
I dunno. I couldn't get my 78 year old Dad to use a FREE Roomba Robot Vacuum Cleaner or a FREE Tom Tom GPS. But he has 5 AOL accounts.
Old people and technology don't mix.