Telepresence Robot Care Delivery in Different Forms

Transcription

1 ISG 2012 World Conference Telepresence Robot Care Delivery in Different Forms Authors: Y. S. Chen, J. A. Wang, K. W. Chang, Y. J. Lin, M. C. Hsieh, Y. S. Li, J. Sebastian, C. H. Chang, Y. L. Hsu. Doctoral Student, Mechanical Engineering Department, Gerontechnology Research Center, Yuan Ze University, Taiwan 2012/6/27 1

2 Outline Introduction The information structure of TRiCmini + System structure of Tricmimi + The interior design and basic spec of Tricmimi + The Different Forms of Care Delivery Vital sign monitoring Interpersonal communication Facial expressions and robotic movements Social Network Integration Conclusions

3 Communication is important to healthy aging Aging is associated with an increased risk of isolation. Communication with friends, relatives, healthcare providers, and others is crucial to healthy aging. (Coughlin, 1999) International Society of Gerontechnology (ISG): Designing technology and environment for independent living and social participation of older persons in good health, comfort and safety. Scope of gerontechnology (by ISG): health, housing, mobility, communication, leisure, and work. 3

4 Face to face communication Communication tools did facilitate interpersonal communication in terms of real-time verbal communication. Nonverbal communication, such as facial expression and body language, is more powerful and efficient in conveying ideas, thoughts, and emotions. vocal & verbal 7% 38% 55% nonverbal (Mehrabian & Ferris, 1967) 4

5 Telepresence Robot for Interpersonal Communication TRiC is used as the avatar or agent of the caregiver in a local user s home environment. Remote User Local User

6 TRiCmini + TRiCmini + is tele-operated by the remote user via the Internet, and the threedimensional face-to-face interaction is duplicated with two-way audio and video communication, as well as robotic movement. It provides not only verbal communication but also the nonverbal aspects of interpersonal communication. 6

7 THE INFORMATION STRUCTURE OF TRICMINI + 7

8 System structure of TRiCmimi + TRiCmini + is separated into a tablet and a robotic vehicle. The tablet is the robot control center and it s also the face of TRiCmini + for displaying facial expressions. Robot control software is an Android App. 8

9 The interior design and basic spec of TRiCmimi + For a higher level of anthropomorphism, its inner structure consists of the head, body, two arms, and a round base. Considering the convenience of use and the friendliness, TRiCmini + is in a compact size of 45.5 cm tall and weighing 3.6 kg. 9

10 THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF CARE DELIVERY 10

11 Vital sign monitoring The basic care delivery form is the vital sign transmission, storage and analysis. It is also the smallest home telehealth system. All technical functions of a home telehealth system are built on the tablet. The vital sign data are transmitted to the remote users via the Internet. 11

12 Interpersonal communication Older adults can use the video and audio communication function to do the verbal communication with their families/caregivers through TRiCmini +, similar to using telephones or video conferencing system. The user interface for remote users enables the user-friendly and intuitive manipulation of the position of the camera, the omnidirectional movements, facial expressions and whole-body emotions. 12

13 Facial expressions and robotic movements Normally, the facial expressions display automatically by following the setup rules while no one login from remote. Remote users or caregivers can use the robot control function to achieve not only the movement control but also the nonverbal communication by choosing the facial expressions and robotic movements. TRiCmini + is given the ability to present emotions among the 6 universal facial expressions. Local Display 13

14 Social network integration TRiCmini + can be a friend to the children/family members on Facebook. Vital sign data monitoring, remote photo sharing and caring messages can all be done from Facebook by the remote user. The health monitoring data received by the tablet be posted as a message on Facebook automatically. Thus, caregivers can get this information if they include TRiCmini + as their friend on Facebook. Caregivers uploaded photos to Facebook., TRiCmini + downloaded those photos, video clips automatically. Children/family members can send warm caring messages to their seniors to display on the tablet via Facebook. 14

15 CONCLUSION 15

16 TRiCmini + provides different levels of care delivery TRiCmini + has been developed to provide both verbal and nonverbal aspects of interpersonal communications. The three-dimensional face-to-face interaction is duplicated with two-way audio communication. It also demonstrates extensive capability to provide different levels of care delivery to older adults through robotic movement, vital sign monitoring, and other forms of communications. 16

17 An innovation infrastructure of the telepresence robot for interpersonal communication TRiCmini + delivers an innovative system infrastructure of telepresence robot by using the tablet as the control center, and robot control functions are developed as another App on the tablet. Under this innovative control structure, the robot control App can be downloaded, maintained and updated easily through the Internet. TRiCmini + also integrates with social network services such as Facebook, in order to raise motivation for younger generation to interact with the older adults. 17

18 Yuan Ze University Thank You Dena Chen