Australian robot to try dementia care
Matilda, the intelligent and caring robot developed at Melbourne’s La Trobe University, has won funding to try its skills with people who have dementia. Another La Trobe researcher will look at how people’s driving ability is affected by early dementia.
Above: Professor Rajiv Khosla explains Matilda to Simon Finn at the 2011 CeBIT technology conference in Sydney. At the time, Mr Finn was the Queensland Minister for Government Services, Building Industry and Information and Communication Technology.
By Stephen Easton
Matilda, the robot that cares, will soon have a go at improving the lives of people with dementia after her father won a research grant from a new scheme funded by the Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation.
Professor Rajiv Khosla from the La Trobe University Research Centre for Computers, Communication and Social Innovation has been awarded the grant to trial the small orange robot in a dementia care setting.
Matilda’s ability to communicate intelligently as well as dance, play games and express emotions to some degree have previously been demonstrated in trials at aged care facilities, such The Boulevarde, a facility in Melbourne operated by Blue Cross.
“The $40,000 granted to our department will provide my colleagues and I with an opportunity to trial affective communication robots – in this case, a robot called Matilda – with the premise it may improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers,” Professor Khosla said.
See Matilda in action in the video below, thanks to COTA Queensland and Latin America News.
Another La Trobe University researcher, Professor Carolyn Unsworth from the Department of Occupational Therapy, was also awarded a grant under the same program.
Professor Unsworth and her colleagues will direct their research grant of $39,000 towards measuring the performance of people who have recently been diagnosed with dementia in driving tests, with the hope of making recommendations to VicRoads on future testing guidelines.
“This grant allows us to investigate several issues surrounding driving assessments for people who have been recently diagnosed with dementia including looking at the different options regarding a driving assessment, for example being tested in their local area or undertaking the test a second time,” Professor Unsworth said.
The Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation – Victoria Grants scheme will distribute research funds donated to Alzheimer’s Australia Victoria on an annual basis and is chaired by Associate Professor Michael Woodward, director of aged care services at Austin Health and board member of Alzheimer’s Australia Victoria.
“The committee was established to distribute research donations to those projects that may benefit the fight against dementia – whether that be in terms of medical benefits, physical benefits or even emotional benefits,” Professor Woodward said.
The 2012 Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation – Vic Grants scheme is currently offering two $50,000 grants with applications closing on 17 April 2012.
