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Kodate N, Maeda Y, Hauray B, Tsujimura M, Chan WCH, Mannan H, Yu W, Dalgalarrondo S, Cheung MC, Yumoto A, Suwa S, Donnelly S, Sakata N, O’Shea D, Obayashi K, Masuyama S. Hopes and fears regarding care robots: Content analysis of newspapers in East Asia and Western Europe, 2001-2020. FRONTIERS IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES 2022; 3:1019089. [PMID: 36569638 PMCID: PMC9773842 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2022.1019089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background As a type of welfare technology, care robotics is now widely seen as a potential aide to rehabilitation, increasing independence and enhancing the wellbeing of people with disabilities and older adults. Research into and development of care robots have both been vigorously promoted in North America, Europe and Asia, and the competition for technological advancement in robotics is becoming fierce. AI ethics and policy guidelines are being established. However, there are still differences in attitudes and perceptions, as well as national policies regarding this type of welfare technology. Moreover, despite the anticipated usefulness, it is believed that progress has been slow in the diffusion of care robots. Purpose In order to explore how public discourses support technological innovation, such as care robots, while preparing society for potential risks and impact, we sought to ascertain whether public discourse on care robots varies from region to region. For example, what are the hopes and promises associated with care robots and what are the concerns? Methods To address these questions, this article explored how care robots have been portrayed in five major broadsheet newspapers in five jurisdictions in Asia and Europe (France, Great Britain, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland and Japan). We obtained 545 articles for the period between January 2001 and September 2020, more than half of which originated in Japan. A thematic analysis was conducted of these articles written in four languages (Chinese, English, French and Japanese). Results Positive and negative narratives were teased out, alongside other key prominent themes identified, such as Japan as the land of robots, the pandemic, and the impact of robots on the economy. As the number of robot-related articles grew from the year 2012 onwards, narratives became more nuanced in European newspapers, but not in Asian ones. Furthermore, recent articles began to address the social and relational impact of care robots, while providing concrete examples of improvements in the quality of life for users. Further careful examination will be necessary in the future in order to establish the impact of robotics use in rehabilitation for people with disabilities, older adults, their carers and society at large.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Kodate
- School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland,Public Policy Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan,La Fondation France-Japon, School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), Paris, France,Institute for Future Initiatives, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,Universal Accessibility and Ageing Research Centre, Nishitokyo, Japan,Correspondence: N. Kodate
| | - Y. Maeda
- Faculty of Business, Technological University DublinDublin, Ireland
| | - B. Hauray
- Institut de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les enjeux sociaux, School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), Paris, France,French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Paris, France
| | - M. Tsujimura
- School of Nursing, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - W. C. H. Chan
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - H. Mannan
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland,Flame University, Pune, India
| | - W. Yu
- Center for Frontier Medical Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - S. Dalgalarrondo
- Institut de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les enjeux sociaux, School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), Paris, France,French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris, France
| | - M. C. Cheung
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - A. Yumoto
- Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - S. Suwa
- Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - S. Donnelly
- School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - N. Sakata
- Center for Information and Communication Technology, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Japan
| | - D. O’Shea
- St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland,Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - K. Obayashi
- Universal Accessibility and Ageing Research Centre, Nishitokyo, Japan,Faculty of Healthcare Management, Nihon Fukushi University, Mihama, Japan,Social Welfare Corporation Tokyo Seishin-kai, Nishitokyo, Japan
| | - S. Masuyama
- Universal Accessibility and Ageing Research Centre, Nishitokyo, Japan,Traveler’s Medical Center, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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