AI robots could soon take some of the burden off exhausted nurses by fielding patient questions and performing simple tasks.
After a successful hospital test, it was discovered that the androids could “without problems” answer questions related to the time until the doctor would be free and other topics.
The machines could also engage in “general chat” with patients, as well as offering quizzes, puzzles and even relaxing breathing exercises. Crucially, they were found to be able to keep up with conversations involving multiple nurses and patients simultaneously.
The UK National Robortarium, based at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, played a key role in the £7 million EU-funded ‘Social Assistance Robots in Gerontological Healthcare’ project.
A trial with elderly patients in a Paris hospital aimed to test whether robots could “help patients, relieve their anxiety and relieve pressure on nursing staff.”
Scientists suggested robots could be vital in “boosting productivity” regarding “simple but repetitive tasks” in healthcare, including the NHS (File Image)
AI robots could soon take some of the burden off exhausted nurses by answering patient questions and performing simple tasks (File Image)
Scientists suggested that robots could be vital in “boosting productivity” regarding “simple but repetitive tasks” in healthcare, including the NHS. They further indicated that they could reduce the risk of infection transmission by reducing possible physical contact between doctors and patients.
So-called “social robots” have increasingly been introduced into public spaces using the same technology as chatbots to maintain fluid and human conversations with visitors.
Oliver Lemon, professor of AI and co-director of the National Robotarium, said the results marked an “important milestone” in the introduction of social robots in hospitals.
“The prospect of robots seamlessly collaborating with hospital staff to improve the patient experience is now closer to reality.
“Promising initial tests at Assistance Publique Hopitaux in Paris have demonstrated our robot’s ability to effectively converse with patients and their companions simultaneously.”
He said the machines were capable of performing “routine tasks” such as giving directions and providing general information, while also answering “repetitive questions” such as opening times and “how long do I have to wait?”
They could also “help with anxiety and provide entertainment,” with calming exercises and games with patients, he said.
The results suggested that robots “could become an essential element of patient care in hospitals in the future,” according to Professor Anne-Sophie Rigaud, head of the department at Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris.
UK Government Minister for Scotland, Malcolm Offord, said: “First trials of assistive robots successfully demonstrate the huge potential this advanced technology has to provide vital support to healthcare staff, improve patient care and prevent spread of infections and diseases.
UK Government Minister for Scotland, Malcolm Offord, said: “First trials of assistive robots successfully demonstrate the huge potential this advanced technology has to provide vital support to healthcare staff, improve patient care and prevent spread of infections and diseases.
“The UK Government has invested £21 million in the National Robotarium to help foster world-leading research and support high-quality jobs, investment and growth, as part of our more than £2.9 billion investment for improvement across Scotland.