1/🧵 The NY State Office for Aging's project distributing robotic pets to seniors tackles loneliness, a health risk equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. These pets offer companionship, improving seniors' quality of life. #threadstorm #inleo #cent
2/🧵 Ageless Innovation's robotic pets, like Helen Macura's 'Friendly', show how tech can address social isolation. While not replacing human contact, they provide a bridge to it, fostering connections with caregivers and family.
3/🧵 Critics of 'botsourcing' companionship miss the point. Robotic pets aren't a replacement but a supplement to human interaction, especially for those unable to care for live pets. They're a tool in the fight against the health risks of loneliness.
https://inleo.io/@marshiee1/combating-senior-loneliness-with-robotic-pets-9fw