- It is a scientific fact that long-term loneliness is harmful.
- The New York State Office for Aging (NYSOFA) is trying to tackle loneliness with robots.
- The robots in this case are named after ElliQ.
It is a scientific fact that long-term loneliness is harmful. Humans are social creatures and we need a certain level of companionship to thrive. But especially given recent events, loneliness can be rampant. And, according to an article in TheVergeloneliness can be especially intense among older people’s communities.
But now, the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) is trying to tackle the problem of loneliness with robots.
How in an episode of Black Mirror, robots arrive to combat loneliness
Robots That Fight Loneliness may sound like something out of the episode of BlackMirror, but the premise is very real. The robots in this case are named after ElliQ. And NYSOFA specifically chose them as their preferred tools to combat loneliness in older populations.
NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen shared with TheVerge:
Many features attracted us to ElliQ: it is a proactive tool, it remembers interactions with the individual, it focuses on health and wellness, stress reduction, sleep, hydration, etc. It focuses on what is important to individuals: memories, validation of life, interactions. with friends and family and promotes good health and general well-being.
Also, ElliQ emphasizes the “empathy” as its main offer. The robot’s website notes that “ElliQ is powered by revolutionary artificial intelligence (AI) that was years in the making by global experts before coming to you.”
The robot’s website adds: “You will be surprised how empathetic ElliQ is. She will be interested in how you are doing, she will make you smile and she will try to enrich you and improve you every day”.
TheVerge he further notes that the robot can allegedly remember details of its owners’ lives. In addition, ElliQ can “mold your character in his way. It will make more jokes if the user tends to laugh a lot, for example”.
It all sounds a bit puzzling if you ask us. Very disconcerting, even. And yet we all know how easy it feels to bond with an inanimate object, especially one that behaves in a humanoid way. It doesn’t take much for humans to project life onto something lifeless. And if the idea of life is there, it is possible that robots can help combat loneliness.
After all, the perception of company can go a long way to erasing the feeling of being alone. And robots could theoretically provide that.
The ElliQ website goes deeper into how the robot works
Share the following:
- Reactive vs. Proactive: With Alexa, the user must remember the wake word and continually think of questions to ask or commands to give, such as “set a timer.” Instead, ElliQ finds moments when the user is available to proactively suggest activities or start conversations. It can be woken up by your name or a touch at any time, but it doesn’t gather dust waiting for the user to boot.
- Call and response vs. conversation: Alexa is designed to react to your commands or answer your questions. You can ask her something and she will give you an answer. In the meantime, ElliQ was designed to provide companionship, she will start a conversation and then create context to inform future follow-up conversations. For example, when you ask Alexa for the weather, she will tell you the forecast. ElliQ will ask you about your plans for the day and remind you to bring an umbrella if it’s raining before you head out. She will then greet him upon her return and ask him about her departure.
- butler vs. Roommate: Think of Alexa as a butler, which provides many functional benefits. You can order more paper towels and set timers until the cows come home. Users refer to ElliQ as a “roommate” that offers much more than functionality. While it can do many of the same tasks, it is primarily focused on building a relationship, helping its owner achieve their health and wellness goals, helping them stay independent, and ultimately earning their owner’s trust.
Of course, the website ElliQ assures us that the robot is not listening to you, looking at you or recording you… Except insofar as it is necessary to do his job of ending loneliness. And yes, the website does refer to the robot as “her.”
But, Do these robots really help fight loneliness? Well, the NYSOFA trial is just getting started, so it’s too early to tell. More research is definitely needed to confirm. scientific studies made to this point seem to suggest that robots can generate positive benefits in certain areas. However, we still do not have enough data on the subject.
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