Japan's Elderly Nix Robot Helpers

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:there's a deeper backstory here. 2 things:

[royallthefourth]

You do realize that a significant portion of 20-24 year olds are unemployed because they go to school, right? Yours isn't exactly an apples to apples comparison.

Students and others who aren't looking for full-time work aren't counted as part of the labor force, so they don't weigh in the unemployment rate. It's a valid comparison.