Technology has advanced and multiplied on a mass scale changing and revolutionising industries. Some argue that technology has hindered the way we live today as we heavily rely on it. In today’s society, we are now, more than ever, dependent on our technology to take us places as we have a vast amount of technology at our disposal.
We seem to be learning less and doing more. Some also argue that the dominant role social media platforms play in our lives today, especially for adolescents, will have long term impacts on us as a society, effects which are still yet to be seen in their entirety.
However, when focusing on how far technology has come, it’s not all doom and gloom. The integration of technology in healthcare has seen wonders for medical science. Not only has technology helped in the realms of modern medication, but it has also opened the door for new ways of working and caring for patients who need it the most.
After a life-changing incident or as people age, the ability to carry out what is considered normal mundane tasks can be difficult or even almost impossible for some patients. With this in mind, the use of smart devices can help make homes more accessible for those who have disabilities or need the help of others to be cared for. National Robotarium from Heriot-Watt University has taken the step to help make independent living possible for those who need it the most. They are collaborating with care providers and those who use assisted living services to create a solution using robotic technology.
The concept is being tested in what they call an Ambient Assisted Living Lab designed to replicate a home setting. Still, instead, it is kitted out with sensors and IoT devices to enable those who need care at home to receive it exactly in the way they need. A wide range of technology that has all been placed together to account for the various needs one may need.
This includes help from a combination of sensors around the lab, cameras, IoT devices and cloud technology to provide a space which researchers, care providers and end-users of assisted living services can work together to co-create technologies and solutions. The lab is used to collect data about how better technology can be applied to make independent living easier; using the data will help study exactly what applications and solutions are needed for care providers.
The lab is also experimenting and testing robotics to see how they can be used to complement existing care services that are available and also to test how well they are capable of interacting with the users. The lab is testing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). This works by placing tags on the floors which provide information concerning the human’s whereabouts in the space. This data enables researchers to learn the patterns of behaviour of the person who is receiving the care, how well they are moving if they seem to fall in some of the same spots when carrying out the same tasks. Having access to this data will help to improve care for those who need it the most.
However, the implementation of robotics in our future world doesn’t stop there. The global pandemic has undoubtedly changed the world as we once knew. For this reason, Japanese firm Telexistence has developed a robot, Model-T, which is designed to allow people to carry out physical labour in supermarkets and other locations from the comfort of their very own homes.
The robots’ every move can be remotely controlled by a person whilst watching it through a virtual reality headset, which is thought to provide the robot’s eye view. Workers will be able to log in online and carry out tasks through their headsets. The idea is considered appealing especially in today’s world. However, as with all new concepts and technologies, it may still be sometime before you see a robot stacking sleeves at your local supermarket.
