Japanese seniors shun their robotic overlords

According to reports out of Tokyo, Japanese senior citizens are being turned off when robots get switched on. Ifbot, a helper-robot at a Japanese nursing home which can converse, sing, express emotions, quiz seniors, and perform mercy killings (okay, that last one isn't true), has apparently not been a hit with the elderly residents. "The residents liked Ifbot for about a month before they lost interest," says Yasuko Sawada, the Kyoto-based facility's director, adding, "Stuffed animals are more popular." The news backs up what University of Tokyo geriatric social worker Ruth Campbell says, "Most (elderly) people are not interested in robots. They see robots as overly-complicated and unpractical." Apparently, Japanese electronics-makers have been scrambling to produce robotic assistants for the nation's elderly (which will make up 40-percent of its population by mid-century), but the seniors have been shunning the overly complex companions. This comes as no surprise to us, of course, as our grandparents have been complaining about the "picture radio" for decades.

[peshue @ Sep 20th 2007 11:23AM]

It might not be the best comparison, but Nintendogs was the first thing I thought of while reading this.

[peter @ Sep 20th 2007 9:41PM]

That's funny. My first thought was "Wow. That bot is carrying a Realdoll...@_@".

[g.Park @ Sep 20th 2007 11:28AM]

I, for one, welcome our elderly Japanese overlords.

May they crush the robot menace once and for all!

[Argot @ Sep 20th 2007 11:28AM]

DESTROY! Kill all humans!

[The ZeroCorpse @ Sep 20th 2007 11:39AM]

Old Glory Insurance covers anyone over the age of 50 against robot attack, regardless of current health.

[Steele @ Sep 20th 2007 11:40AM]

lol my grandmom always called the tv a picture radio too

[nextGen @ Sep 20th 2007 11:41AM]

Hey! This is funny, the robot reminds me a french comic book "Le Manitoba ne répond plus". If it's the same, we are in big trouble my friends!

http://g.courtial.free.fr/Jo_Zette_Jocko_manitoba_wallpaper_fond_d_ecran.jpg

[Dax @ Sep 20th 2007 11:45AM]

That's one horny robot.

[Baby-G @ Sep 20th 2007 11:45AM]

Why does it have that dangerously sharp point ono it's head?

[Whiplash @ Sep 20th 2007 11:51AM]

The Picture Radio! That's classic!

Personally I think there's going to have to be a huge shift in processor design and programming languages before we get interactive robots that are worth a crap. I don't care how advanced these current robots are, it's only takes so long before you work through all the possible outcomes in thier decision paths, just like a video game, and then they are boring. Until they learn to think for themselves, forget it. But then I suppose we'll have a whole new set of issues.....

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 20th 2007 12:10PM]

Who knew the way to make 'em go away was to simply lose interest in them?

I sure didn't.

[Herbert Neal @ Sep 20th 2007 12:19PM]

Im still waiting for my SexBot

[slackz @ Sep 20th 2007 12:29PM]

oh that would be right the elderly driving the robots to mass rage right before they die..what better way to ensure the survival for the rest mankind than a battle between man and machine. I hope my grandparents will is enough to cover all the ammuntion i'm gonna need to clean this mess up!

[martin_walsh @ Sep 20th 2007 12:36PM]

Don't know if anyone watches Dr. Who, but that robot looks freakishly like a Cyberman in need of a new paint job. Be very afraid!

[Wormbolt @ Sep 20th 2007 12:42PM]

Well it's this or the Soylent Green route so they shouldn't complain.

[jroc @ Sep 20th 2007 2:33PM]

Ahhh! Get it away from me!

[Motorola 3G Victim @ Sep 20th 2007 3:15PM]

Based on the research in this article we can conclude that the next version of the robots will have an enhanced user interface: they will resemble stuffed animals.

I'm sure the japanese seniors will appreciate the upgrade as it seems only obvious that it is far more comfortable to wipe one's ass on a fuzzy robot than a cold hard plastic robot when it is carrying you from the toilet back to your bed.

[Jeff @ Sep 20th 2007 5:31PM]

Time for seniors to get their Robot Attack Insurance!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVnkd7ot_pw

[Fye @ Sep 20th 2007 9:25PM]

Why is the guy in the background wearing sandals? :D

[Joe @ Sep 21st 2007 4:06AM]

Maybe they should take care of the seniors themselves instead of passing the job off to a freaking machine. There is a thing called human contact that is quite important. I can't wait until I lose all dignity and self respect by having a machine as my only companion. If you thought nursing homes were bad now...

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