Exploring How Robots can Help Older Adults Live by Their Values

Abstract

The aging index has been increasing in Europe, and Portugal is currently one of the countries with the oldest population. In most cases, aging brings a physical decline that hinders a person’s movement, physical and cognitive health and, consequently, agency. Several people see their autonomy jeopardized and their social lives slimmed, creating a sense of isolation and incapability. Technology can aid by helping to overcome possible barriers derived from aging and act as an expanding agent of freedom and agency but traditional approaches often compel individuals to adapt to technology, neglecting the uniqueness of each person. In this research, we investigated the integration of human values into robotic technologies for older adults, emphasizing the principles of Value-Sensitive Design (VSD) and Participatory Design (PD). Through interviews, insights were gathered into the core values of 15 older adults and the role of technology in achieving them. Findings revealed nuanced perspectives on Social Ties, Altruism, Freedom and Agency, Lifelong Learning and Traveling, and (Re)Discovering, emphasizing a diversity of attitudes toward technology adoption. Utilizing these findings, we crafted 15 Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) scenarios tailored to align with these values for analysis in participatory design sessions. The outcomes indicated a higher overall acceptance of scenarios centred around Social Ties, Life-long Learning, and Freedom and Agency. Additionally, we conducted an ethnographic case study to investigate the influence of a remotely controlled robot on familial relationships, providing valuable insights for the design of adaptive and value-driven robotic systems in the context of technology and aging.