TY - GEN
T1 - Understanding older adults' perceptions of usefulness for the Paro Robot
AU - McGlynn, Sean A.
AU - Kemple, Shawn C.
AU - Mitzner, Tracy L.
AU - King, Chih Hung
AU - Rogers, Wendy A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - There is a growing proportion of older adults in the population. Normal aging brings about difficulty in maintaining autonomy as well as an increased need for social support. Animal-assisted therapy and pet-type robots may be a solution to this problem. However, older adults' living situations cannot always accommodate live animals and there are design limitations associated with many of the current pet-type robots. Paro's design addresses some of these issues, but perceptions of Paro's usefulness remain largely unexplored in the normally aging older adult population. The focus of this paper was to address perceived usefulness of the robot Paro as well as potential influencing factors of perceived usefulness. In this study, 30 healthy older adults (ages 67-80) completed questionnaires and answered interview questions regarding perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of Paro before and after they interacted with it. The data revealed that the participants were neutral regarding perceived usefulness of Paro in their daily lives. However, most participants indicated specific uses for themselves and others, which raised concerns regarding the applicability of the Perceived Usefulness measure in this context. Furthermore, most participants said that they would want to own Paro, and perceived it as being beneficial to other people. Data analysis is ongoing, but initial findings and potential response trends have been identified and discussed. Our results provide insights into healthy older adults' thoughts toward and acceptance of this robot, as well as potential influencing factors of its acceptance.
AB - There is a growing proportion of older adults in the population. Normal aging brings about difficulty in maintaining autonomy as well as an increased need for social support. Animal-assisted therapy and pet-type robots may be a solution to this problem. However, older adults' living situations cannot always accommodate live animals and there are design limitations associated with many of the current pet-type robots. Paro's design addresses some of these issues, but perceptions of Paro's usefulness remain largely unexplored in the normally aging older adult population. The focus of this paper was to address perceived usefulness of the robot Paro as well as potential influencing factors of perceived usefulness. In this study, 30 healthy older adults (ages 67-80) completed questionnaires and answered interview questions regarding perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of Paro before and after they interacted with it. The data revealed that the participants were neutral regarding perceived usefulness of Paro in their daily lives. However, most participants indicated specific uses for themselves and others, which raised concerns regarding the applicability of the Perceived Usefulness measure in this context. Furthermore, most participants said that they would want to own Paro, and perceived it as being beneficial to other people. Data analysis is ongoing, but initial findings and potential response trends have been identified and discussed. Our results provide insights into healthy older adults' thoughts toward and acceptance of this robot, as well as potential influencing factors of its acceptance.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84957657199&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84957657199&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1541931214581400
DO - 10.1177/1541931214581400
M3 - Conference contribution
C2 - 31320791
AN - SCOPUS:84957657199
T3 - Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
SP - 1914
EP - 1918
BT - 2014 International Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, HFES 2014
PB - Human Factors an Ergonomics Society Inc.
T2 - 58th International Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, HFES 2014
Y2 - 27 October 2014 through 31 October 2014
ER -