robotic pets

11.28.09

Fake Dog, Real Benefits

A study finds that visits from robotic pets provide the same health benefits to the elderly as ones from flesh-and-blood pooches
By Gregory Mone Posted 02.27.2008 at 6:34 pm 0 Comments

It turns out playing with a robot pet can be just as soothing as interacting with the real thing. Saint Louis University researchers conducted a study in three U.S. nursing homes to see how elderly people would respond to Sonys Aibo, the robo-dog, versus a flesh-and-blood mutt. The subjects were divided into three groups. One got regular visits from the mutt, the second played with Aibo and the third was deprived of both.

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