Use of Communication Robots in Health Care

Abstract

Robots are increasingly used in health care, in different forms and with promising results. The newest generation of human‐like communication robots is of most interest for media psychologists. This entry discusses how communication robots have been shown to keep senior citizens company, improve their mental and physical health, and reduce loneliness. For children with special needs, in particular in the autism spectrum, social robots can improve their social skills, support (hospitalized) children, help them cope with various health issues, and reduce distress from treatments. Observations indicate that lonely people and children with special needs easily bond to a communication robot. This entry discusses how and why people may become friends with a mechanical robot. It further discusses the limitations of current research with care robots, related ethical issues, and suggests areas for future research addressing media psychological perspectives on the use of robots in health care.