Researchers from Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Hanze University Groningen, Viaa University of Applied Sciences and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands have looked at the effect of social robots. The research shows that Tessa can be of significance for people with dementia living at home.
Tessa can offer and activate a person with dementia structure, because she gives a reminder for appointments and daily activities. She does this by saying a message that has been entered beforehand by the caregiver. For example: "It is three o'clock. Good afternoon Mrs. Nijboer, would you like a cup of tea? In addition, Tessa can become a real 'buddy' for the person with dementia, if only because her voice breaks through the silence in the house. Moreover, she can play music.
Necessary developments
At the same time, the researchers observe that the social robot Tessa still has substantial limitations, so that it is not clear in advance whether its efforts can live up to expectations. Two fundamental limitations stand out here: Tessa is not interactive and she has no environmental awareness. In practice, therefore, using Tessa is often a search that demands time and attention, is not predictable and is not always successful.