Robotic Pets Helping People With Dementia

A robotic seal called Paro is being used as a therapeutic medical device to help care for people with dementia.

In this week's Swipe, the team speak to Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, to find out how the robot is benefiting patients on its Burrowes unit in Worthing.

The Trust, working in conjunction with the University of Brighton, introduced the technology on one of its wards after it received a £10,000 fund for the project.

Paro can sense touch, light, sound and movement and is programmed to respond when someone interacts with it by moving its tail, and opening and closing its eyes.

The device also responds to sounds and can learn to recognise a name.

Robots with a personality

It is hoped that Paro will highlight the need for innovation and research on dementia in inpatient settings.

Penny Dodds, lecturer practitioner for the University of Brighton and the Trust, said: "We're hoping that our work at The Burrowes will find the same things as studies in Japan - that Paro increases social interaction for people with dementia, helps people who are experiencing distress, loss and grief, lessens their anxiety and improves their quality of life.

"We all have a responsibility to make sure that the life of someone with dementia is the best it can be."

Micro-robotic creatures are also being developed to help relieve stress in the workplace.

Hexbug fish are powered by electromagnetic propulsion and an automatic on and off sensor which activates them  when submerged.

Bright HR co-founder, Paul Harris, told the Swipe team why his company use the technology: "For our people, they have this environment where they can step away from the desk, sit in front of this aquabot aquarium and it is quite hypnotic, and the noise the hexbugs make is great, it helps people relax."

The manufacturers of the technology say it is not about replacing real pets - the intention is to use them as an additional tool to help people who will benefit from them.

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