Older adults' attitudes toward homes service robots

World population ageing is a global concern, and to Singapore, this is no different. Today, 15 percent of the total population is of age 60 and above. By 2050, Singapore will be the world's 4th largest ageing nation, after Japan, Macao and Korea, with 38% of the population above 60 years of age [United Nations, 2012]. Older adults in Singapore (as in many Asian societies) are traditionally supported by their families. This demographic shift will potentially increase the burden on their families, the working adults and their children. Home service robots are looked upon as potential aids to improve the quality of life of older adults, help them live independently and help relieve the stress of their caregivers. Before any technology can be useful, their potential users must be willing to accept and use them. Vacuum cleaning robot, such as the Roomba, have already been used and accepted in homes in the United States [Enzer, et al. 2009; Forlizzi 2007], and is available commercially in Singapore. However, beyond vacuum cleaning, are users in Singapore, particularly older adults, willing to accept other kinds of interactive home service robots or humanoid robots to assist them in other household tasks? What kind of assistance do they expect from the robot? How should a robot behave or look to warrant their acceptance in their homes? These are some questions our team seeks to address.