Switched has a new home! Huffpost Tech.

Click here to visit the new home of Switched!

Hot on HuffPost Tech:

See More Stories
AOL Tech

Robovie the Robot Helps Grandma Get Groceries

by Amar Toor on December 30, 2009 at 09:28 AM

GPS shoes can keep tabs on our beloved elderly relatives. High-tech clothing and complex home-monitoring systems can track their heart rates. But how do we remotely remind Grandpa to pick up his weekly supply of prune juice? A new robot named Robovie can do just that, and more.

Developed by Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, Robovie is designed to accompany our grandparents to the grocery store, assist them with their shopping, and help them to make healthier culinary choices. Once Meemaw enters her shopping list into a menu-driven device, the robot then follows her around the aisles, holding the grocery basket, and reminding her to pick up items she may have forgotten about. Robovie's most interesting feature, though, is its health-monitoring capabilities, allowing it to keep track of the owner's vital signs and to recommend the appropriately healthy foods. As with most new robots, there's the whole humanoid side to Robovie, too, as evidenced by his pseudo-natural commentary on the aesthetics of the food selected. (See a video demonstration here.)

Normally, robotic companions tend to give us a mild case of the creeps, but in this instance, we think this could have some real, substantial benefit. We could probably do without Robovie's running commentary on the hue of our tomatoes, but if he can actually help our grandparents organize their lives, and, more importantly, make healthier choices, then we're all for it. [From: LiveScience]

Tags: elderly, health, robot, top

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular