title: Living with the animals: animal or robotic companions for the elderly in smart homes?
abstract: Although the use of pet robots in senior living facilities and day-care centres, particularly for individuals suffering from dementia, has been intensively researched, the question of introducing pet robots into domestic settings has been relatively neglected. Ambient assisted living (AAL) offers many interface opportunities for integrating motorised companions. There are diverse medical reasons, as well as arguments from animal ethics, that support the use of pet robots in contrast to living with live animals. However, as this paper makes clear, we should not lose sight of the option of living with animals at home for as long as possible and in conformity with the welfare of the animal assisted by AAL technology.
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institut für Geschichte und Ethik der Medizin, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Preuß
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institut für Geschichte und Ethik der Medizin, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Legal
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D056447:Animal Assisted Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000818:Animals; D003142:Communication; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D057805:Pets; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000639:trends; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000639:trends; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: Aged; Health Care for Specific Diseases/Groups; Information Technology