Senior Citizens Like Robo-Dogs As Much As Real Dogs
Logic would lead you to believe that the real dog would bring significantly more comfort to each of the residents, and that they would develop a stronger attachment to Sparky. Even the researchers clearly expected this result. Surprisingly, the AIBO was shown to be just as effective at alleviating loneliness and the participants grew just as attached to robotic mutt as they did to the living, breathing version.
As an added bonus, the robotic dogs require much less care and attention than a live animal. So senior citizens who are too physically or mentally frail to properly care for a pet can still obtain some of the benefits of companionship, without the worry of neglecting an animal.
Hey, it might seem kind of strange or funny, but in Japan, much of the bleeding-edge robotic innovation is focused solely on creating "helpers" for the elderly. Who knew it could be done so cheaply with a plastic dog lik AIBO?
From AOL News/Reuters
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