Technology for Caregiving-A Tool, Not A Replacement?

We have several posts about the use of technology in caregiving.  I cover it in my classes (do you?) and in particular, I want my students to think about consent, privacy and autonomy.  Several years ago, there were stories about PARO, a therapeutic interactive robot designed to resemble a baby harp seal, and its use with certain individuals, including those residing in nursing homes.  (The company website has quite a bit of information about PARO, including research papers.)  There are lots of different types of technologies available, whether assistive or monitoring. 

A recent article in the San Jose Mercury News  (and picked up by my local paper, the Tampa Bay Times) Meet Paro, a robot designed to help the elderly, reports on the results from using Paro in a local retirement community.    This article looks at the issues of ethics as well as how the use of such “socially assistive” robots results in less isolation for some residents.  The story highlights the interactions of some residents with the robot.  The article also reviews the debate regarding using such robots.  For example, Sherry Turkle, an MIT social scientist is quoted in the article offering a concern that

“faux relationships” with machines may detract from human connections…”It’s not just that older people are supposed to be talking. Younger people are supposed to be listening… [and] … [w]e are showing very little interest in what our elders have to say.” Robots like Paro may offer comfort to isolated seniors, Turkle has written, but it could “make us less likely to look for other solutions for their care.”

Another expert, Professor Maja Mataric,  offers a counter-view, that such robots provide both “valuable reinforcement and motivation” and notes that

While robots aren’t a complete substitute for human interaction, she stressed, they may play a vital role since “there just simply aren’t enough people to take care of our very large and growing elderly population.” … [and] added: “We need to think about the humane and ethical use of technology, because these things are coming.”

I think this is a great topic for discussion with students.  Let me know what you think.