The Two Faces of Care Robots: Loneliness Hidden Behind Convenience [SeniorBiz Insight]

Professor Kim Jeong-geun, Department of Silver Industry, Gangnam University

On October 28th, I attended the 'Care Robot Network Forum' at the National Rehabilitation Center. Led by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Rehabilitation Center, the forum was an opportunity to share the outcomes of demand-driven care robot and service demonstration R&D projects, and to showcase the care robots developed so far. As science and technology advance and aging progresses, 'care technology' has become a field attracting global attention. In particular, as care technology emerges as a new opportunity for future industrial growth, interest in technology-based elderly-related businesses such as care robots is rapidly increasing.

Care robots like 'Paro' and 'Hyodol' have already moved beyond laboratories and are being used in actual homes, nursing homes, and long-term care hospitals. AI (artificial intelligence) speakers serve as companions for elderly people living alone, and care robots shaped like humans or animals remind them to take their medicine or guide them through dementia-prevention exercises and quizzes. Going forward, these care technologies are expected to positively impact not only the lives of the elderly but also national and global economies. However, for care technology to provide practical help to everyone and lead to a care economy, several issues must first be addressed. It is essential to build trust in this technology among care workers, those in need of care, and the general public.

The foremost issue to resolve is ethical concerns. When new technology is introduced, unprecedented situations arise that can disrupt our existing values. New technology may clash with established values, and if these conflicts are not resolved, the technology will struggle to spread throughout society. As early as 1950, Asimov emphasized the need to preemptively prevent the potential impacts of robots by introducing the 'Three Laws of Robotics.' The first law, "A robot may not injure a human being," highlights the most critical issue that must be addressed for care robots to develop into a care economy. Recently, reports have emerged of side effects caused by care robots. These side effects mainly pose risks to the elderly, so addressing them is a prerequisite for further advancement of care technology.

One frequently mentioned side effect is that elderly people may become more socially isolated. According to James Wright's book, Robots Will Not Save Japan, an 18-month observation in Japanese nursing homes after 2016 found that the use of care robots reduced the time nursing aides spent directly caring for or conversing with elderly residents. The time required to operate and move robots inevitably reduced face-to-face interaction with the elderly. Another study showed that while video calls increased the frequency of meetings with elderly parents living alone, actual in-person visits decreased. The convenience of video calls reduced the burden of visiting in person and lessened feelings of guilt about not visiting, leading to fewer actual visits.

These cases reveal an ethical problem where care technology may inadvertently reduce interpersonal interactions, making elderly people feel lonelier. Even in Japan, where technological capability is high and resistance to robots is low, care robots have yet to develop into a care economy. According to the '2022 Survey on Care Labor Conditions at Business Sites' by the Japan Care Labor Stability Center, only 2.4% of 8,632 business sites had introduced mobility support robots for patients. Although care robots were created to address the shortage of care workers and the increasing burden of care, why are they not widely used in the field? The biggest reason is cost, but another significant factor is that robots reduce human-to-human contact, causing both care workers and elderly people to hesitate to continue using them. Care is not just about performing necessary tasks; it involves communication, laughter, chatter, and physical interaction.

Without recognizing and addressing these issues, care technology will inevitably face limitations in developing into a care economy and growing into elderly-related businesses. To this end, it is crucial to listen carefully to 'what is truly needed in the field and what the voices of the field are' when creating and utilizing care technology. Actively incorporating the opinions of those who actually use the technology in care settings from the research and development stage will lead to 'practical care technology' and 'technology that can evolve into a care economy.'

Recently, there have been increasing attempts to reflect the opinions of care technology users through Living Labs. However, most evaluations occur only after the product is developed. It is necessary to listen to the voices of the field from the early development or design stages. Moreover, Living Labs should not remain confined to closed laboratories but should move into the actual living spaces of the elderly. Many experiments are conducted in quiet, well-furnished model houses, but real elderly homes may be small and noisy. To create care technology that can be properly used in the field, the needs and environments of the users must be well reflected. Additionally, introducing technology into care is not simply about machines replacing human work but about enhancing the quality of care. The 'right path' and 'correct way' are the fastest routes for care technology to develop into a care economy.

Kim Jeong-geun, Professor, Department of Silver Industry, Gangnam University