A Minimal Design of a Human Infant Presence: A Case Study Toward Interactive Doll Therapy for Older Adults With Dementia.

Hidenobu Sumioka,Masahiro Shiomi,Nobuo Yamato,Hiroshi Ishiguro

doi:10.3389/frobt.2021.633378

Abstract

We introduce a minimal design approach to manufacture an infant-like robot for interactive doll therapy that provides emotional interactions for older people with dementia. Our approach stimulates their imaginations and then facilitates positive engagement with the robot by just expressing the most basic elements of humanlike features. Based on this approach, we developed HIRO, a baby-sized robot with an abstract body representation and no facial features. The recorded voice of a real human infant emitted by robots enhances the robot’s human-likeness and facilitates positive interaction between older adults and the robot. Although we did not find any significant difference between HIRO and an infant-like robot with a smiling face, a field study showed that HIRO was accepted by older adults with dementia and facilitated positive interaction by stimulating their imagination. We also discuss the importance of a minimal design approach in elderly care during post–COVID-19 world.

Highlights

Dementia is a major cause of dependency and disability in older adults and significantly impacts them as well as their families, caregivers, and society. 40–50% of those with dementia suffer from cognitive, psychological, and behavioral problems, including hallucinations, depression, and agitation (Cerejeira et al, 2012)
We introduced a minimal design approach and developed an interactive doll called HIRO to investigate the necessary elements for a robot for interactive doll therapy
We developed RQ2 and RQ3 expecting that eliminating nonessential information and allowing users to imagine the missing information would promote positive interaction and that the lack of facial features would encourage different interactions with dementia seniors

Summary

Introduction

Dementia is a major cause of dependency and disability in older adults and significantly impacts them as well as their families, caregivers, and society. 40–50% of those with dementia suffer from cognitive, psychological, and behavioral problems (behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia: BPSD), including hallucinations, depression, and agitation (Cerejeira et al, 2012). BPSD reduction is a major social challenge This is more urgent issue than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic because recommended strategies such as social distancing taken during the pandemic inhibit daily activities and increase feelings of loneliness, which are potential factors that increase BPSD in older adults (Cohen-Mansfield et al, 2010). It increases caregivers’ burden and financial costs for implementing proper measures to prevent infection. Doll therapy, which usually works by providing a human baby doll to older adults with dementia

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