In Japan, there exists a growing series of robot-therapy sessions at Japanese hospitals and senior citizens’ homes to help aging adults become accustomed to robots. Some scientists believe that robots are the answer to caring for the aging societies in not only Japan but other nations where the younger generations are destined to be overwhelmed by a surging elderly population.

These advocates see robots as not only helpers by carrying out simple chores and reminding patients to take their medication, but also as companions even if the machines can only speak a few words. The idea is to assist senior adult caretakers, help reduce medical costs, alleviate the burdens on the family, and keep the old and ailing in better health. Russell Bodoff, executive director at the Center for Aging Services Technologies in Washington, D.C believes that this technology is really needed for the global community.

He believes that we are on the path to a global crisis due to the fact that there will be many more aging people in need of assistance than those to do the job and it is more than we could ever deal with.

Japan is leading the way in world research on helpful robots. Among them, the Repliee Q1 is being designed and built by Osaka University and Kokoro Inc. This "humanoid" is a new breakthrough in robotics because of its utter resemblance to a human with very human movements.

It is meant to look and act the same as an average Japanese woman. She mimics a number of human movements and characteristics. Her chest expands and contracts as if she was breathing. She shifts her position slightly, like any person unconsciously does and she also flutters her eyelids and can gesture to people. Her skin is made form a silicon substance instead of a hard plastic like some robots, to make her even more human like. Her skin can detect when something is touching her. She can react to a pat on the back, a slap on the arm, or a handshake.

The belief in making an android more human like is due to human response. It is proven that the more human characteristics an android exhibits, the more accepted they are by humans. They are considered softer and not unfriendly or evil like some plastic androids appear. The development of a humanoid is focused on improving the ability of a robot and human to communicate with each other as well as be comfortable in close proximity. The best reason to have such a convincing robot is for working directly with people, such as in personal care for the aging adult population.

Another humanoid robot, which does not look human, is Asimo in development by Honda Motor Co. The robot looks like a plastic astronaut. He is designed to deliver coffee, clean things up and fetch the daily paper. As a household servant, he is able to reach doorknobs and light switches so that he can navigate your home.

NASA has an entire branch dedicated to designing robot systems, but their reason is a little different. They design robots to mimic human actions by remote control, basically to carry out tasks meant for humans like a puppet. Robonaut is their current project, designed to move like a human but not designed to interact with people. It resembles the human form so that is can perform human tasks aboard a spacecraft since spacecrafts were designed to be operated by humans.

In contrast, Kibertron, being designed by Kibertron Inc., is a robot with exceptional humanlike movements even though it looks nothing like a human. The focus of this robot is to create an android that can truly learn with its own logic system. The other robots mentioned appear intelligent, but they are still programmed devices. Kibertron will be able to teach itself by watching people or by testing devices.

One of the most successful robots and on the market today is Paro, a robotic baby harp seal meant to provide therapy for the elderly who are filling Japanese nursing homes at an alarming rate and often falling prey to depression and loneliness. The seal begins over time to recognize its master’s voice and hand gestures. It coos and flaps its furry white down in delight at gentle nuzzles, but squeals in anger when handled roughly. Tests have shown that it indeed reduces stress and depression among the elderly. In this case, this robot cannot help do tasks, but it can simply create warmth and comfort for a lonely soul.

Robots can be especially helpful for patients with dementia. Toshiyo Tamura, professor at the National Institute for Longevity Sciences, has experimented with pet-like robots much like Paro, for stimulating and comforting elderly patients. Tamura and colleagues published research that found that some patients’ activity, such as talking, watching and touching, increased with the introduction of a robot dog in therapy sessions.

In a recent interview, Tamura explained that playing with robots reduces problem behavior in dementia patients such as walking off, and they gain a certain peace of mind. Real animals can be used of course, but robot pets make more sense in a hospital setting because they are more sanitary, they do not bite or cause allergies and there is no need to feed them since they create the same results as their furry counterparts.

There are a slew of other robots in the works out there in the world of science and technology, constantly improving to assist in the aging population all over the world. The technology is there, it is just being perfected to be able to actually help senior adults in their everyday activities and to look more human like to comfort and be a real companion to older adults.

Many advocates and scientists hope that some shape or form of a robot will be an affordable household item within 10 years. They will be able to do household chores, push people in wheelchairs, maintain a garden, help lift heavy objects and know when to call emergency numbers on the telephone. Something needs to be done in our world of shrinking birthrates and a massively growing elderly population so that all aging adults will be able to get the assistance and help they need and deserve.