University Calendar
The Use of Socially-Assistive Robots for Eldercare in Japanese & Western Societies
About Dr. Takanori Shibata
Dr. Shibata is a Senior Research Scientist at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Sciences and Technology (AIST) in Japan. He is the inventor of the PARO robotic seal that is used as a tool for psychological therapy. PARO is presently the most extensively used therapeutic robot world-wide and, in the words of Dr. Shibata, it is the central instrument in what can be viewed as a form of "robot therapy" inspired by "pet therapy".
About the Lecture
Dr. Shibata discusses the role of robots like the PARO Robotic Seal in providing psychological comfort and care for the elderly and disabled in Japan, Europe, and the United States. His PARO robot has been widely used in a variety of settings including hospitals and nursing homes. It was designed as a tool to help therapists treat patients suffering from anxiety, depression, pain, loneliness, stress, and other mental health issues. In addition, it is a neurological therapeutic medical device approved by the FDA for non-pharmacological therapy to reduce psychotropic medications.
This lecture was made possible by a grant from Montclair State University’s Global Education Center.