Semi-Autonomous Teleoperated Learning In-Home Service Robots for Elderly Care : A Qualitative Study on Needs and Perceptions of Elderly People, Family Caregivers, and Professional Caregivers

• This paper reports the results of a user requirement study for a robotic system aiming to support independent living of the elderly. A concept is investigated where caregivers would teleoperate and teach a domestic service robot on tasks it currently cannot perform autonomously. Focus groups were carried out in three European countries with 59 participants. Results show a preference for emergency and household functions among elderly and caregivers. However, most professional caregivers stated to prefer personal contact to the assisted person and opposed the prospect of being a teleoperator. Some family caregivers welcomed teleoperation because it would free them from being bound to the elderly’s home; others showed reservations, mainly due to concerns of having even less time for themselves. Implications for the design of a robotic system are discussed.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap -- Människa-datorinteraktion (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences -- Human Computer Interaction (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Service Robot

Teleoperation

Learning

Elderly

Caregiver

User Requirements

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)