Key points
- China is witnessing integration of AI and robotics into elderly care services
- China’s population age 60 and above has reached 310 million
- This accounts for 22pc of the total population
ISLAMABAD: Robots and the related technology is seeing greater progress in countries such as China where now robots are being used to assist the elderly.
According to a China Daily report, in a nursing home in South China’s Shenzhen, Xia Lan, a humanoid robot with lifelike skin, blinking eyes and a warm, soothing voice is busy assisting the elderly.
“Can you dance for us?”
“Can you dance for us?” one senior asks, prompting smiles from those around. “I’m so happy to see robots becoming part of our lives,” another resident remarks. “I hope they bring us more convenience.”
China is witnessing a rapid integration of artificial intelligence and robotics into elderly care services, offering innovative solutions to the challenges of an aging population.
The latest data shows that by the end of last year, China’s population age 60 and above reached 310 million, accounting for roughly 22 percent of its total.
Global standard
The International Electrotechnical Commission recently released a global standard for elderly care robots. Led by China in its formulation, the standard sets technical benchmarks for product design, manufacturing, testing and certification for such robots.
Elderly care robots, once a distant concept, are quickly becoming a reality for China’s aging population.
“Elderly care robots represent an untapped market,” said Bi Yalei, secretary-general of the Shenzhen Robots Association. “With pressing issues in senior care, such as mobility assistance, fall prevention and rehabilitation support, many companies in Shenzhen are actively investing in this sector due to strong demand.”
Although elderly care robots are still in their infancy compared to industrial robots, some users have already begun to experience the convenience they offer, according to China Daily.
“Yang Yang”
According to a report published by Xinhua, in southwest China’s Chengdu, the Pacific Care Home has introduced a companion robot named “Yang Yang,” which wakes residents each morning, provides weather updates, and reminds them of their daily activities.
More humanoid elderly-care robots, like “Yang Yang,” are set to enter the market.
