title: Robotic Companions for Older People: A Case Study in the Wild.
abstract: Older people tend to have difficulties using unknown technical devices and are less willing to accept technical shortcomings. Therefore, a robot that is supposed to support older people in managing daily life has to adapt to the users' needs and capabilities that are very heterogeneous within the target group. The aim of the presented case study was to provide in-depth insights on individual usage patterns and acceptance of a mobile service robot in real live environments (i.e. in the users' homes). Results from three cases (users aged 67, 78 and 85 living in their own apartments) are reported. Findings on usability and user experience illustrate that the robot has considerable potential to be accepted to support daily living at home.
authors.affiliation: TU Ilmenau, Media Psychology and Media Design Group.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Doering
authors.affiliation: TU Ilmenau, Media Psychology and Media Design Group.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.affiliation: TU Ilmenau, Neuroinformatics and Cognitive Robotics Lab.
authors.forename: Horst-Michael
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.affiliation: TU Ilmenau, Neuroinformatics and Cognitive Robotics Lab.
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schroeter
authors.affiliation: TU Ilmenau, Neuroinformatics and Cognitive Robotics Lab.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: TU Ilmenau, Neuroinformatics and Cognitive Robotics Lab.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volkhardt
authors.affiliation: TU Ilmenau, Neuroinformatics and Cognitive Robotics Lab.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scheidig
authors.affiliation: TU Ilmenau, Neuroinformatics and Cognitive Robotics Lab.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Debes
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003142:Communication; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment