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IBM Working On Robot That Takes Care Of Elderly

IBM in conjunction with Rice University have created a robot that is designed to keep an eye on grandpa and help keep him safe. The robotic assistant can work around-the-clock, monitoring and helping senior citizens who live on their own. Rice University’s Aging in Place lab in Austin, Texas is working with tech giant IBM to create a robot to take care of your grandma. The Daily Sheeple reports: Called the Multi-Purpose Eldercare Robot Assistant (MERA), the Watson-powered robot referred to as a “robotic roommate” is supposed to help take care of elderly people in a more affordable way than nursing homes or hospice care can offer. The robot will constantly scan the living environment for health and safety hazards, taking biometric readings of its human roommate. Business Insider reports: Sensors can detect when the stove’s burners are on, or when a person has fallen down. Even in its prototype stage, MERA is equipped with cameras to read facial expressions, sensors to capture vital signs, and Watson-powered speech recognition to know when to call for help. The company believes Japan, a nation with a vast aging population that has begun using barcode stickers to track its elderly people suffering dementia [...]

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