Abstract
Socially assistive robotic platforms are now a realistic option for the long-term care of ageing populations. Elderly users may benefit from many services provided by robots operating in different environments, such as providing assistance inside apartments, serving in shared facilities of buildings or guiding people outdoors. In this paper, we present the experience gained within the EU FP7 ROBOT-ERA project towards the objective of implementing easy-to-use and acceptable service robotic system for the elderly. In particular, we detail the user-centred design and the experimental evaluation in realistic environments of a web-based multi-modal user interface tailored for elderly users of near future multi-robot services. Experimental results demonstrate positive evaluation of usability and willingness to use by elderly users, especially those less experienced with technological devices who could benefit more from the adoption of robotic services. Further analyses showed how multi-modal modes of interaction support more flexible and natural elderly–robot interaction, make clear the benefits for the users and, therefore, increase its acceptability. Finally, we provide insights and lessons learned from the extensive experimentation, which, to the best of our knowledge, is one of the largest experimentation of a multi-robot multi-service system so far.
Highlights
The growing number of older people living alone in need of care is one of modern society’s great challenges
We underline that even if different services were experienced by the two groups, a similar Perceived Usefulness was scored in the UTAUT questionnaire with no statistical difference
We presented the user-centred design approach, the technical implementation and the results of two experimentation studies in realistic and controlled environments of the robotic services tailored for elderly users by the RobotEra project
Summary
The growing number of older people living alone in need of care is one of modern society’s great challenges. Intel Serv Robotics (2018) 11:109–126 more people over the age 85 than there are today and more than 20% of the population of most developed countries (e.g. Japan, USA, Europe, Australia) will be over 65 [43]. This older population will be more affluent and keen to enjoy their third age [54]. Within the EU FP7 project Robot-Era, three different robotic platforms were developed and optimized for the services and for usability and acceptability by elderly people in the home (domestic), communal shared living areas (condominium), and outdoor environments. RoboTech Dustcart was the output of the DustBot project, which studied and developed the platform to have a friendly aspect that proved to be suitable for an urban environment [25]
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