Singapore Uses Robot-Coaches to Help Senior Citizens Get More Exercise

Singapore, which has one of the highest number of people over 80, will soon launch a program involving robots to help its senior citizens get more exercise. It will be a very novel idea when Singapore launches its nationwide “Robot-Coaches” program to its senior activity centers. The robots, which are programmed to offer encouragement and demonstrate how exercises are done, will be the instructors in fitness classes. During the introduction of the new technology, the Minister of Communications and Information, Yaacob Ibrahim said the “Robot-Coach” would be offering personalized enjoyable routines designed for seniors. Likewise, seniors would be able to do the exercise routines properly, which will give them the maximum benefits.

A friendly face

The Robo-Coach, which was developed by Singapore’s Ngee Ann Polytechnic Electrical Engineering Department has a pair of blue eyes, just two teeth, and rosy-red face. It is capable of mimicking the movements of humans. Earlier this month, the first Robo-Coach had been sent to one senior activity center and the plan is to have 25 installed in other venues by the end of 2015.

The friendly robot has two screens. The one on its head has a smiling face that offers support and encouragement. The screen on its chest shows the detailed instructions on how each exercise is performed.

Singapore has a program called Smart Nation and the deployment of Robot-Coaches is part of it. The country’s objective is to utilize technology for the improvement of the island nation’s infrastructure, efficiency and communication, and one of its goals is to enable its senior population to lead more fulfilling and independent lives.

Potential solution to an aging society

With the increasing number of elderlies in society, robots have been identified as a potential solution in providing help to seniors. Scientists in Nagoya have been developing and testing Robear since 2006. It’s a bear-faced AI robot with giant arms, which is able to lift and care for disabled and elderly patients. It is considered as the most advanced among the robots developed to care for people.

There are several others that have been developed for this niche. Paro is a touch-reactive electronic harp seal. It’s cuddly and designed to comfort and amuse patients with dementia. Encore Smart is a smart walker that’s intended to take over wheelchairs. Pepper, created by Japan’s Soft Bank, is a humanoid robot that could understand human emotion and capable of conducting conversation.

Robo-Coach’s reception was positive and its development was not meant to displace human workers but to fill a vacant niche, including devices that could provide comfort and companionship to seniors who are lonely. They may not look as cuddly and as advanced as Baymax, but they are fulfilling a need.

Image credit: CNN